If the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) were to pass, this post could cause Tacky Raccoons to be taken down with a single complaint.
The complaint could be made by one of the pet owners, the person who created any one of the images, the company that printed the calendars where the images were featured, any website that sold those calendars, and any individual claiming ownership of the pictures, whether the claims were legit or not.
Every website that posted any image could be accused and shut down, whether guilty of copyright infringement or not. Google itself could be in violation, because they linked to the images where we lifted them, which is aiding and abetting.
The U.S. Government has been trying to figure out ways to control the internest for a long time, especially for taxation purposes, but this latest power grab (by a bipartisan commission!) is beyond insidious. James Watt takes it a step further:
SOPA/PIPA is not the way of free speech, nor is it going to help the exchange of ideas. It will hurt science just as much as any other venue to protect a few media conglomerates. SOPA and PIPA is a real danger to all of us who frequent websites such as this one. Imagine if you will, we are discussing the new HadCRUT4 using station data – a complaint is lodged by UEA/CRU to the SOPA/PIPA entity over some portion of that dataset they consider “proprietary” or protected by one of the non disclosure agreements they claim to have with some countries. One complaint is all it would take to shut WUWT, Climate Audit, and other websites using this data for discussion down- without any hearing or trial. Basically, “fair use” gets tossed down the hole. Science loses.
Freedom of Speech is one of the unalienable rights of citizens of this great country. Let’s make sure it’s never taken away, because we’ll never get it back.
[Found here.]
I’m a pessimistic optimist, in that I expect the worst, and if the worst doesn’t come to pass, it’s gravy. This new year has the potential to be just as bad economically as 2011, but I have hope.
Trouble is, hope don’t feed the bulldog, so we’re forced to hunker down until the storm passes. There’s a small patch of blue sky on the economic horizon that suggests the worst may be over. Don’t bet on it clearing until after November when the political pendulum begins its slow return to normalcy, providing plenty of gravy and mixed metaphors for all.
The original 25 images came from a google search for “butthead,” which is my honest opinion of the OccuPoopage. What a waste of, um, you know, ah, nevermind.
(Copy and paste everywhere and anywhere you see fit.)
[Image via; 1st interview via Weasel Zippers, 2nd via lgfretro. ]
Apparently, some of the “Occupy X” morons believe all U.S. Citizens who earn more than minimum wage deserve this.
Everywhere is freaks and hairies, dykes and fairies. Tell me where is sanity? Tax the rich, feed the poor, ’til there aren’t no rich no more. I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do. – Alvin Lee
Yep, they’re changing the world all right, one failed beat at a time. Truth is, the guy’s got no rhythm – he’s a beat off – and if that were a real Benjamin in his pocket he’d be chasing after the dork who lifted it. Capitalism!
How much capitalism can an anti-capitalist use in one photo? Capitalism sucks!! Umm, except Facebook. And Diet Snapple. Toshiba laptops. Trendy bikes. Bottled water…
In Ten Words is a nice theme blog. Ten words max per post.
What kind of man follows Tacky Raccoons? Dan dances with dogs, but also shreds the blues.
Attack Waaaaatch! Can you imagine the msm outcry if any GOP candidate put up a website like that? The whole Big Brother concept of “Attack Watch” is so ill-conceived and smarmy, I’m stunned that Obama’s reelection campaign staff would even consider such a bone headed stunt. Regardless of your own political affiliation, you’ve got to admit that the video is funny.
Our cat just hacked up a fur ball, and dissed the President:
“Brak. Braaak. Barrrraaack!” I’m gonna snitch.
