Monday, January 30, 2012

Blog Ads


This guest post from Doris Dillon
Since we moved into our new home I have been Shopping around for energy rates in Texas?. Or at least it was on my to-do list for several days. But, every time I would get a break and sit down at the computer I would end up just going to my favorite blogs and getting lost in their posts about being a mommy of quads or something. I always wondered how these women actually made money blogging. I mean, what a cool job, right? Get money to write your diary/journal online. Sounds easy enough to me! The other day I noticed the links around the blog posts and one of them just so happened to be for energy rates in Texas! It was perfect because it reminded me what I needed to do and hopefully, I helped support an awesome lady. I don't actually know her, but I follow her blog so I feel like we are best friends! Of course once I realized this I started clicking on all the links and most of them are for clothing stores where the clothes are more then a dinner for four!

planning and what not

So i've been a bit busy lately, mainly planing for trips, maybe tagging along on tours and getting my college classes, FASFA and everything in order. I'm the type of person that wants to, has to and must plan beyond in advance so I can feel calm, relived, and just all around better about everything happening. I have to write it all down, force the boyfriend to listen to my super planning haha, i'm pretty sure he doesn't mind at all since the plans include him.
So the trips, i'm so excited for our traveling these coming months!! Even though being on a plane more then terrifies me, it's kind of fun, like a roller coaster. Scary, but ya do it anyway. Well, were off to Vegas for valentines day! I can't wait, even if we've been before, i love watching the Bellagio fountains :] the crazy pirate show at Treasure Island, and this time I can gamble! I'm going straight to the StarWars game! And were staying at Caesars Palace! So were also going straight to H&M :] Then later next month were going to San Francisco! One of the places i've always wanted to see and wonder around in! Hopefully the weather will be nice because were going to be doing a hell of a lot of walking. We're going to be there for about two days I think and then head over to Tahoe from there. Snow! I'm not sure if im going to try snowboarding, mainly because you have to rent a board and I dont know how much that'll be. But i'm going to go crazy playing in the snow! I'm going to make a snow man :] got to do it at least once in my life! That's it for February. In March Gabe and Verg are are suppose to be having their wedding on St. Patricks Day, green beer and all! And they want Nic to play at the reception! But after hearing the whole band SecondLovers on the radio she wants the band haha she said " i have to, have to, have to have SecondLovers play at my wedding!". Yup! I don't know how thats going to roll, but we'll be in Raymondville for like two days. Then in May were back to Vegas for some fun. And we may end up in Florida in May too! I actually get to see a real beach, not a poop beach like we have here! :]
Now classes. I'm doing my FASFA super early so i'm hoping that i get my financial aid early too. If all the money things happen on time, ill be done with my associates degree in 3 semesters :] that's  not including summer classes, but i'm hoping to take some :] I'm also considering getting a degree in Digital Communication- Web Publishing Specialization. That's still up in the air but it's an idea that i'm considering very seriously :]
yay planning!!!

BlockParty: The Big Top!






I got a free Disfrutalo shirt! :]

Friday, January 27, 2012

NoMoreRack!

If any of you really know me, and i'm sure some of you do, you know that i'm always on the look out for discounts, coupons and good deals!!On the street and even more so on the internet. What can I say, i'm a frugal person, a thriftaholic even. Well, I came across this site that has tremendous deals!! I'm talking about more the 50% off on some items kind of deals. And don't worry because it's not a nomorerack scam. They have clothes, hats, bags, TV's and some pretty cute accessories too. I went to their page and instantly laid my eyes and a very cute bracelet for about 6$! And their shipping is only2$ per item! I even found some purses that just might end up in my shopping cart! Very nice. For online shopping deals I usually find myself browsing through Ebay or Amazon, but honestly this site has better deals then I find at any other online store. Why have I just barely discovered this site now? You should really check out some nomorerack reviews if you're interested or thinking about shopping at this site. Or even go on and check out the site yourself! Their website is very easy to navigate for you not too computer savvy folks, and even registering is a piece of cake! Very simple steps for very great deals. They even have a payment option for Paypal if you don't want to give out your personal banking information! See, this is another great plus for me because i use Paypal for all my online shopping, it's just safer that way. Go on and find yourself some deals! I hope you all find this website as awesome and helpful with your frugal shopping needs as I do!!!

Be there or be lame

The Annual Main Street Block Party is here!!! i'm excited :] Boyfriends band SecondLovers is going to be playing at The Big Top @11:35pm!!! Be sure to check em' out! ya know, if ya like good music and all ;] hehe. And their are also a few other bands i want to see!! But first, here is the line up :]

WHAT MADE MILWAUKEE FAMOUS | POWER TRIP | CADDYWHOMPUS | EMPRESS HOTEL | B L A C K I E | BRAINS FOR DINNER | TAX THE WOLF | VENOMOUS MAXIMUS | FIGHT PRETTY | LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY G'z | TWENTY ELEVEN | ANOTHER RUN | WHITE CRIME | PURPLE
BENDING VILLA | VOX AND HOUND |ADREAM ASLEEP | ODESSA | AMERICAN HEIST | MARCH TO THE SEA | ENGLAND IN 1819 | MILLS | ELECTRIC ATTITUDE | THE DEAD REVOLT | BUDA LOVE | THE MAHAS | THE FLAMIN' HELLCATS | THE LITERARY GREATS | BANG BANGZ
SECOND LOVERS | THE HANDSHAKE | THE GOLD SOUNDS | NICK GAITAN & THE UMBRELLA MAN | LOLA COLA | VIVIAN PIKKLES AND THE SWEETHEART UBER ALLES |GUILT PARTY | VIPERS | MOTHS | FEATHERFACE | HAROLD BUROP | MUHAMMADALI | CASINOS | THE LIVE LIGHTS | SPASTIC FIT
SHADOW HOUND | PUNK ROCK PROJECT | JIM & THE TOMS | PAPAYA | DAPHNE | AMORETTE | RUNAWAY SUN | WHALES | BRETT HOLLIS | FRANK FREEMAN | ART INSTITUTE LIMITED | SCREWTAPE | WAYWORD | ABSTRACT CANNON | DANNY WATTZ | RIC ROC | SQUARE & COMPASS | PRAIRIE CADETS | PARIS FALLS |DON'T POKE THE BEAR | BLACKIE DAMMIT | UNICORN MILK | FOX & CATS | RENZO | BLVD NIGHTS
DJ's:
BMC | ROB BASS | PHARMER | CEE PLUS BAD KNIVES | MR.CASTILLO | DAMON ALLEN | PANCHITRON | STEPHEN FARRELL

Who i want to see:
Vipers
Papaya
FeatherFace
B L A C K I E
Know what the best part is? I can legally drink! yay!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Cant wait for Vegas again


One of my favorite pictures of us 
this was around Caesars Palace 
It was freaking windy as hell!!
Can't wait to go back for Valentines Day :]
Love my weirdo <3

Why was MegaUpload really shutdown? The other agenda

Why was MegaUpload really shut down?

In December of 2011, just weeks before the takedown, Digital Music News reported on something new that the creators of #Megauploadwere about to unroll. Something that would rock the music industry to its core. (http://goo.gl/A7wUZ)

I present to you... MegaBox. MegaBox was going to be an alternative music store that was entirely cloud-based and offered artists a better money-making opportunity than they would get with any record label.

"UMG knows that we are going to compete with them via our own music venture called Megabox.com, a site that will soon allow artists to sell their creations directly to consumers while allowing artists to keep 90 percent of earnings," MegaUpload founder Kim 'Dotcom' Schmitz told Torrentfreak

Not only did they plan on allowing artists to keep 90% of their earnings on songs that they sold, they wanted to pay them for songs they let users download for free.

"We have a solution called the Megakey that will allow artists to earn income from users who download music for free," Dotcom outlined. "Yes that's right, we will pay artists even for free downloads. The Megakey business model has been tested with over a million users and it works."



Monday, January 23, 2012

ACTA: an act worse then SOPA and PIPA



ACTA in a Nutshell –

What is ACTA? ACTA is the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. A new intellectual property enforcement treaty being negotiated by the United States, the European Community, Switzerland, and Japan, with Australia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Mexico, Jordan, Morocco, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada recently announcing that they will join in as well.

Why should you care about ACTA? Initial reports indicate that the treaty will have a very broad scope and will involve new tools targeting “Internet distribution and information technology.”

What is the goal of ACTA? Reportedly the goal is to create new legal standards of intellectual property enforcement, as well as increased international cooperation, an example of which would be an increase in information sharing between signatory countries’ law enforcement agencies.


Essential ACTA Resources 
  • Read more about ACTA here: ACTA Fact Sheet
  • Read the authentic version of the ACTA text as of 15 April 2011, as finalized by participating countries here: ACTA Finalized Text
  • Follow the history of the treaty’s formation here: ACTA history
  • Read letters from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden wherein he challenges the constitutionality of ACTA: Letter 1 | Letter 2 | Read the Administration’s Response to Wyden’s First Letter here: Response
  • Watch a short informative video on ACTA: ACTA Video
  • Watch a lulzy video on ACTA: Lulzy Video
  • Reuters: ACTA signed in Tokyo: Article
  • United States ACTA: Read
  • European Union Trade Commission ACTA: Read
  • Australian Gov’t ACTA: Read
  • Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic: Read
  • ACTA Undermines Access to Medicines: Article
Say NO to ACTA. It is essential to spread awareness and get the word out on ACTA.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Back to bangs!





I decided to go back to bangs :]

Out Of Time - A re-post from one of my other sites


The howling wind kept my small body shivering, the snow was piling on this small rooftop like a coating of cupcake icing and there was still no sign of him. It was five till nine and time was slowing down all around me. I looked around the empty lot and imagined him running through that door, ready and willing. But there was just the door and the sound of the city breathing. I love this place, you could see the whole of Chicago from here, covered in a thick layer of winter but beautiful none the less. All the shining lights kept me hypnotized, lost in my thoughts of what would happen now? Would he swoop down and save me, take me away like he unwittingly promises? Or will I be left to endure this frigid winter alone? Wounded. It was always push and pull with us. We were always an almost but never a yes, never a for sure, never a forever. I waited my whole life for him, and I feel like nothing but his back up plan, just his plan B. Nine on the dot. I guess plan A must have worked out. I stepped up onto the ledge, and I stared down at the city that was my entire life. My face was hot, the cold couldn't bother me now. Standing over the city felt calming, numbing even. He wasn't coming and I was done with this game that I've been losing. I wanted to keep this image of my beautiful city in my mind, a winter wonderland that never let me down. I took a deep breathe. I slowly turned my back to all the sounds of life and flickering lights. I closed my eyes and thought of all the times I felt like I was the only plan he ever wanted. Times that seemed like I was the only thing that could light up his world. The scent of his coat as he hugged me, that smile that said I love you and only you. Its now or never, this is it. It's the beginning, or the end. I let myself fall back into the cruel city, it was all slow motion but I could hear the wind rushing as gravity pulled me down. And there it was, that awaited sound that always drowned out the cries of the city. A loud call, but somehow soft as he said it, "..Hannah?"
It was him. He was late.

©HeyJude

Friday, January 20, 2012

INTENTclick

I've recently signed up for different Adsense for my website (google, socialspark ect.) and I came across INTENTclick, a site that focuses on helping generate extra revenue for websites that have Better Income or Saving Money Content. I love that they also help out people like me, people who are frugal, have a coupon for just about everything and are total penny pinchers!! I must say, the service and installation is easy, totally uncomplicated, they have in-text links even the sign up was easy, and they seem to have the best payout among all Adsense services. There's even ppc advertising ! In fact, running INTENTclick alongside Adsense ads could generate an additional  25% revenue compared to Adsense alone. It's a performance based RPC ( Revenue Per Click), premium rates for clicks that convert and Thousands of Offers, Exclusive In-Text Placements, Yield Optimization Technology, Takes only a minute to set up, Reliable Payouts, Text linksPlug & Play Easy Integration and easy to contact Technical Support. Another great thing is that they use Paypal so you don't have to give them any bank information! This is a nice one for me because i use Paypal for just about everything. I think this is a really great service and you should really check this out soon! You might just enjoy all they have to offer!

MainStreet BlockParty: Be there!


Come and listen to SecondLovers at the Main Street Block Party!  January 28!!!They will be performing at TheBigTop in the Montrose area at 11:35pm!!! Tickets are 10-15$ depending on when you buy them. Come out for lots of good music and some drinks :] And fyi, if you are already a SecondLovers fan, they have a small surprise for ya ;]

Friday, January 13, 2012

Support Walgreens

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

 For the past year, Walgreens and Express Scripts have been going through negotiations for a new contract to continue as part of its pharmacy provider network. To continue providing a easy, safe and always open environment for their many customers with health issues. Those negotiations were unsuccessful, and the contract expired on Dec. 31. As a result, Walgreens is no longer part of Express Scripts’ pharmacy provider network as of Jan. 1, 2012. This includes all Walgreens pharmacies nationwide and Duane Reade pharmacies in the New York City area. This poses a real problem, for you and even me!

 

I get my migraine medicine routinely at Walgreens because its close, convenient, and what? always open. They also have great customer service and manners, willing to answer all questions. I find this all severely annoying. Anyone covered by an ExpressScripts plan now has to find  a new pharmacy, drive further, keep to the new stores NON-24 hours service, and they may even have to prepare for a increase on costs! During negotiations, Walgreens offered to hold rates for a new contract flat and did not seek an increase in rates. Clearly, ExpressScripts dose not care about their customers, but only the money lining their already thick wallets. Walgreens, in spite of all this, has even created a Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens for their still loyal customers. Their about the people, not the pay.

 
Express Scripts itself has stated that clients will not see any significant savings from excluding Walgreens from its network. In Fact, costs may even go up!In fact, one of Express Scripts’ clients is Tricare, which is the health and prescription drug program for America’s military service men and women. During negotiations Walgreens offered a contract to guarantee prices would match or beat all prescriptions in pharmacies in the Tricare Network. Walgreens did this in an effort to prevent our country’s military personnel from being caught in the middle. They were rejected.
 
 
Employers value having Walgreens as a pharmacy option for their employees, but Express Scripts wants to take that choice away. Express your opinion! Contact your local media, and find Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook to let them know what you think about this greedy travesty.

Visit Sponsor's Site

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Missing Houston Girl-14yrs-Discovery Green






She was last seen at Houstons Downtown Discovery Green
READ.RE-POST.SHARE.

It was within a matter of minutes that 14-year-oldMorgan Hernandez disappeared. Her grandmother looked over her shoulder at Discovery Green on New Year's Eve to see the teen enjoying the band.
When she turned around again just a few minutes later, Morgan was gone.
It's been more than a week since the teen went missing from the downtown Houston park. Her parents, Ruben and Nile Hernandez, have filed a missing person's report with Houston Police on Jan. 1, tirelessly posted fliers around town and created a Facebook page asking anyone who has information about Morgan to contact them.
"Now all I can think of to do is what we've been doing, which is a lot of praying," Ruben Hernandez said.
Police said they have a few leads from phone numbers from a cell that was used by Morgan, a seventh-grader at Gentry Junior High School in Baytown, around the time she disappeared.
"As of right now, there are no signs of foul play," said HPD Officer Mario Robau. While he could not give details of the investigation, he said it is still being treated as a missing person's case. He said police have information that Morgan was last spotted in west Houston on Westheimer.
Didn't answer phone
Family members have no idea where the teen could be.
Her grandmother, Kelly Doucette, said she had taken her two grandsons to the ice skating rink about 30 feet away from where Morgan was standing before the teen disappeared around 9 p.m.
Doucette told police she tried to contact Morgan on a cell phone she'd given her in case she got separated from the group, but could not reach her. When she was driving around looking for her granddaughter, Doucette spotted her around 1 a.m. at a parking lot on Crawford near the park with at least one man she'd never seen before.
The teen's parents said Morgan left her purse with the little money she had in her grandmother's car. The parents do not believe the girl left the park willingly. Nile Hernandez described Morgan as a good kid, who enjoys staying at home, reading, watching television and fishing with her family.
Tank top and jeans
Morgan is described as about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 130 pounds with dark hair and brown eyes. She has a scar under her chin and another wide scar between her elbow and forearm. She was last seen wearing an orange tank top, brown boots, blue jeans and glasses. She was also wearing a silver Hello Kitty necklace.
"We love her and we miss her," Ruben Hernandez said. "We just want her back as quick as possible."
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Houston Police DepartmentMissing Person's unit at 713-731-5223.

anita.hassan@chron.com
VIA Houston Chronicle 

Monday, January 9, 2012

And the line up is

The Annual Main Street Block Party is a coming!!! i'm excited :] Boyfriends band SecondLovers is going to be playing there, not sure what venue yet but im going!!! and their are also a few other bands i want to see!! But first, here is the line up :]

WHAT MADE MILWAUKEE FAMOUS | POWER TRIP | CADDYWHOMPUS | EMPRESS HOTEL | B L A C K I E | BRAINS FOR DINNER | TAX THE WOLF | VENOMOUS MAXIMUS | FIGHT PRETTY | LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY G'z | TWENTY ELEVEN | ANOTHER RUN | WHITE CRIME | PURPLE
BENDING VILLA | VOX AND HOUND |ADREAM ASLEEP | ODESSA | AMERICAN HEIST | MARCH TO THE SEA | ENGLAND IN 1819 | MILLS | ELECTRIC ATTITUDE | THE DEAD REVOLT | BUDA LOVE | THE MAHAS | THE FLAMIN' HELLCATS | THE LITERARY GREATS | BANG BANGZ
SECOND LOVERS | THE HANDSHAKE | THE GOLD SOUNDS | NICK GAITAN & THE UMBRELLA MAN | LOLA COLA | VIVIAN PIKKLES AND THE SWEETHEART UBER ALLES |GUILT PARTY | VIPERS | MOTHS | FEATHERFACE | HAROLD BUROP | MUHAMMADALI | CASINOS | THE LIVE LIGHTS | SPASTIC FIT
SHADOW HOUND | PUNK ROCK PROJECT | JIM & THE TOMS | PAPAYA | DAPHNE | AMORETTE | RUNAWAY SUN | WHALES | BRETT HOLLIS | FRANK FREEMAN | ART INSTITUTE LIMITED | SCREWTAPE | WAYWORD | ABSTRACT CANNON | DANNY WATTZ | RIC ROC | SQUARE & COMPASS | PRAIRIE CADETS | PARIS FALLS |DON'T POKE THE BEAR | BLACKIE DAMMIT | UNICORN MILK | FOX & CATS | RENZO | BLVD NIGHTS
DJ's:
BMC | ROB BASS | PHARMER | CEE PLUS BAD KNIVES | MR.CASTILLO | DAMON ALLEN | PANCHITRON | STEPHEN FARRELL

Who i want to see:
Vipers
Papaya
FeatherFace
B L A C K I E
Know what the best part is? I can legally drink! yay!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

At Traders Village!






So i went to Traders Village today, one of my favorite places to go!
And i began the search for a Tom Waits record













Four record shops and no luck!!
:/









This stuff is roasted corn, mayo, parmasean cheese and chili powder
and its amazing :] my other favorite thing there





Open Your Eyes



Check out the Boyfriends new song!
For an upcoming EP
SO! here's your sneak peak!
:]

And become a fan!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

The wonder lust bug..



So like I said in an earlier post, I'll be doing quite a bit of traveling next month with boyfriend :) and I'm oh so excited!! Up until late last year I hadn't really traveled. Drove over to Austin and San Antonio but never somewhere far, somewhere I needed a plane to get to. And so, we went to Vegas!! It was amazing, of course I was under 21 at the time so we did the touristy things they had all around the strip but it was awesome still! Well, February we will be going to Vegas again for valentines day :) for about two days and were staying at the coolest hotel!! Then later in the month were probably (hopefully!!) going to SanFran!! I've always wanted to go! My family lived around there for a while but I hadn't been born yet. And the best part is that it will be the Chinese new year festival!!! :) o hear it's quite an amazing adventure :) and then after a few days there we will head over to Tahoe!!! Yeah!!! Snow!!! Real freaking snow!! :) I'm beyond excited, I'm ecstatic!! I get to make a snow man, I'm hoping to try snowboarding!! I'm going to have a million pictures to show from February :) I need a lot more photo albums because I want all these printed :) it's going to be a tiring, busy, chaotic, wonderful month :)

Pic is from Vegas 2011
Ok. Now, on to read the Hunger Games!
Oh and go vote for me www.shortyawards.com/jude1228

Vote under the BLOGGER category please :) and thank you!

Friday, January 6, 2012

The Shorty Awards!!




Please vote me for a shorty award!! :]
Twitter name is:  Jude1228    Use twitter name to vote!
<3 if you love me!!!
Please&ThankYou!!!
Vote in BLOGGER category please!!

Stalkers.

You know what really sucks? Stalkers. Yes, stalkers. Creepy, weirdo, won't leave you alone, around every online corner there is, sometimes shown up to your home, stalkers. Just an abundance of annoyance wrapped in frustration. You'd think they would get it after a while, after years, leave you alone and move on in life, try to just keep walking on. But no. Ooh no. You bother me constantly, I ban you, block you, delete you, hell my brothers beat the shit out of you and laughed and you still wont walk away. I don't want to be your friend, I don't want to be your aquatint, in life or anywhere online, I don't care for your rambling messages, I don't want to be your anything. Just leave me alone. Leave my friends alone. Go away. Disappear already. And maybe even get over it. I've said it time and time again, I can not stress it enough, I want nothing to do with you, not now, not ever. Thank the universe I moved and you don't know where I live now. And soon this year i'll be hours away from you, no need to worry. I can't wait to leave. For more reasons then just this, but it is only a plus that I wont have to be even semi living near you. The future can't come soon enough.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Stop The SOPA Act!

The Internet’s Intolerable Acts

You should be very afraid of a pair of bills that threaten Internet freedom.



The United States of America was forged in resistance to collective reprisals—the punishment of many for the acts of few. In 1774, following the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament passed a series of laws—including the mandated closure of the port of Boston—meant to penalize the people of Massachusetts. These abuses of power, labeled the “Intolerable Acts,” catalyzed the American Revolution by making plain the oppression of the British crown.
More than 200 years later, the U.S. Congress is considering bills that would lead to collective reprisals against online communities.* The Senate’s PROTECT IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act in the House are supposed to address copyright infringement and counterfeiting. In reality, they are so technically impractical that they do little to address these problems. They would, however, undermine participatory democracy and human rights, which is why these bills have garnered near-universal condemnation from both human rights groups and technologists.
The interconnected nature of the Internet fostered the growth of online communities such as Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook. These sites host our humdrum daily interactions and serve as a public soapbox for our political voice. Both the PROTECT IP Act and SOPA would create a national firewall by censoring the domain names of websites accused of hosting infringing copyrighted materials. This legislation would enable law enforcement to take down the entire tumblr.com domain due to something posted on a single blog. Yes, an entire, largely innocent online community could be punished for the actions of a tiny minority.

If you think this scenario is unlikely, consider what happened to Mooo.com earlier this year. Back in February, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security seized 10 domains during a child-porn crackdown called “Operation Protect Our Children.” Along with this group of offenders, 84,000 more entirely innocent sites were tagged with the following accusatory splash page: “Advertisement, distribution, transportation, receipt, and possession of child pornography constitute federal crimes that carry penalties for first time offenders of up to 30 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution." Their only crime was guilt by association: They were all using the Mooo.com domain.
SOPA would go even further, creating a system of private regulation to shut down websites that are accused of not doing enough to prevent infringement. Keep in mind that these shutdowns would happen before a site owner could defend himself in court—SOPA could punish sites without even establishing whether they are guilty of the charges brought against them.
In January 2010, Hillary Clinton launched the State Department’s Internet Freedom initiative, stumping for open access to information worldwide. Though Secretary Clinton has said that “there is no contradiction between intellectual property rights protection and enforcement of expression on the Internet,” PROTECT IP and SOPA create mutually exclusive trajectories for these two priorities. These bills are driven by technologically naive thinking that it’s possible to censor information without affecting freedom of speech. SOPA even goes so far as to make the key circumvention tools used by human rights advocates and democracy organizers throughout the Middle East illegal. While we’re certain that SOPA’s authors did not mean to craft a bill tailor-made to support the future Qaddafis and Mubaraks of the world, that is precisely what they’ve done.
Rather than blocking online copyright infringement, legislation like SOPA and Protect IP would instigate a data obfuscation arms race, making legitimate law enforcement efforts all the more difficult. If the United States decides that copyright infringement must be stopped at any cost, the required censorship regime will depend on ever more invasive practices, such as monitoring users’ personal Web traffic. This counterproductive cat-and-mouse game of censorship and circumvention would drive savvy scofflaws to darknetswhile increasing surveillance of less technically proficient Internet users.
Given that the Intolerable Acts sparked a revolution, it should be no surprise that this proposed legislation has generated a massive outcry in the United States. However, this attempt to unilaterally censor the Internet has spurred worldwide opposition, with several dozen international organizations signing a letter stating that “[t]hrough SOPA, the United States is attempting to dominate a shared global resource.” Last month, the European Parliament adopted a resolution underscoring “the need to protect the integrity of the global internet and freedom of communication by refraining from unilateral measures to revoke IP addresses or domain names.”
As participants in the Internet community, we must defend against collective reprisals that undermine our rights to access, privacy, and freedom of expression online. SOPA and the PROTECT IP Act are fundamentally incompatible with a free society and with the founding principles of the United States. This truth should be self-evident: Human rights should never be subjugated to copyright.

Via Slate.com