Blogs

I do not know much about these two bills, but I am quickly learning about them today, because of all the news about them all over the Internet. Initially, I would have to say I am against them based on what I've heard and because websites whose opinion I respect are against them. So the basic info I know so far:

SOPA is the bill in the House and stands for Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R.3261). It has a long list of sponsors in the House, but our Rep. Sam Farr is not one of them. That is a good thing, in my opinion.

PIPA is the similar bill in the Senate and stands for Protect IP Act (S.968). Unfortunately, both of our senators are listed as sponsors. This is kinda surprising to me, especially that Sen. Boxer sponsors it. I am also surprised that there is such an even mix of Democrats and Republicans on the sponsor list. Evidence that business lobbying is more widespread and effective than I thought?

The lists can be seen here:

House: http://techcentralblog.com/archives/703

Senate:  http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Protect_IP_Act_Senate_whip_count

UPDATE: An even better site to track who is for and against in Congress:

http://projects.propublica.org/sopa/ 

and what amounts of money they get from groups for and against:

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/money

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/money

END_UPDATE 

There is a Wikipedia page that has a combined list, but it is tricky to get to today, because of their blackout. When you go to this page, it redirects to Wikipedia Blackout page, but if you are quick with you mouse or trackpad, you can kill the redirect and read the page.

 There is also a list of companies that support these bills and it is shockingly long, too, but is filled with the "usual suspects", although I was kinda surprised that all the major sports leagues were on it including the NCAA.

http://theoriesofconspiracy.com/2011/11/list-of-major-companies-supporting-sopa.htm 

 And here's a list of companies and many other categories of people and organizations that oppose it:

http://www.cdt.org/report/list-organizations-and-individuals-opposing-sopa 

The website consumerist.com is not blacked out and is devoting today to stories about SOPA/PIPA.

Gawker has a short simplified post about SOPA:

http://gawker.com/5877140/what-even-non-nerds-need-to-know-about-sopa

For the more visually-oriented, like me, here is a video (and article) about SOPA:

 http://lifehacker.com/5860205/all-about-sopa-the-bill-thats-going-to-cripple-your-internet

A  song sung to the tune of "American Pie" about SOPA:

http://gizmodo.com/5877090/the-day-the-lolcats-died-the-ultimate-sopa-protest-song

An alternate veiw from inside Hollywood:

http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/sunk-how-hollywood-lost-pr-battle-over-sopa-34547 

 As I am writing this, I have one eye on the news websites and it appears that some of the major sponsors of these bills are changing their minds and dropping their support because of the rising tide of protest against these bills. I've just read somewhere, (I've forgotten where), that Pres. Obama has said he wouldn't sign these bills, so, if true, that's a good thing.