The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has looked at tomorrow’s “Internet blackout” in opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)—and it sees only a “gimmick,” a “stunt,” “hyperbole,” “a dangerous and troubling development,” an “irresponsible response,” and an “abuse of power.”
“Wikipedia, reddit, and others are going dark to protest the legislation, while sites like Scribd and Google will also protest. In response, MPAA chief Chris Dodd wheeled out the big guns and started firing the rhetoric machine-gun style.
“Only days after the White House and chief sponsors of the legislation responded to the major concern expressed by opponents and then called for all parties to work cooperatively together, some technology business interests are resorting to stunts that punish their users or turn them into their corporate pawns, rather than coming to the table to find solutions to a problem that all now seem to agree is very real and damaging.”
Can I interrupt for a moment? Thanks. When you complain that opponents didn’t “come to the table to find solutions”, do you mean that we didn’t give NINETY-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS to congress like the MPAA? Or do you mean that we didn’t come to the one hearing that Lamar Smith held, where opponents of SOPA were refused an opportunity to comment? Help me out, here, Chris Dodd, because I’m really trying hard to understand you.
“It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information and use their services. It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today. It’s a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests.”
Oh ha ha. Ho. Ho. The MPAA talking about “skewing the facts to incite” anyone is just too much.
“A so-called “blackout” is yet another gimmick, albeit a dangerous one, designed to punish elected and administration officials who are working diligently to protect American jobs from foreign criminals.”
Except for the part where this is completely false, it’s a valid point.
“It is our hope that the White House and the Congress will call on those who intend to stage this “blackout” to stop the hyperbole and PR stunts and engage in meaningful efforts to combat piracy.”
Riiiiiiight. Protesting to raise awareness of terrible legislation that will destroy the free and open Internet is an abuse of power, but buying NINETY-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS worth of congressional votes is just fine.
I’m so disappointed in Chris Dodd. He was a pretty good senator, wrote some bills (like Dodd/Frank) that are genuinely helping people, and is going to be on the wrong side of every argument as head of the MPAA. What a wasted legacy.
Alie arrived at our 1st-grade classroom wearing a sweatshirt with a hood. I asked her to take off her hood, and she refused. I thought she was just being difficult and ignored it. After breakfast we got in line for art, and I noticed that she still had not removed her hood. When we arrived at the art room, I said: “Allie, I’m not playing. It’s time for art. The rule is no hoods or hats in school.”
She looked up with tears in her eyes and I realized there was something wrong. Her classmates went into the art room and we moved to the art storage area so her classmates wouldn’t hear our conversation. I softened my tone and asked her if she’d like to tell me what was wrong.
“My ponytail,” she cried.
“Can I see?” I asked.
She nodded and pulled down her hood. Allie’s braids had come undone overnight and there hadn’t been time to redo them in the morning, so they had to be put back in a ponytail. It was high up on the back of her head like those of many girls in our class, but I could see that to Allie it just felt wrong. With Allie’s permission, I took the elastic out and re-braided her hair so it could hang down.
“How’s that?” I asked.
She smiled. “Good,” she said and skipped off to join her friends in art.
‘Why Do You Look Like a Boy?’
To Chick-Fil-A, Truett Cathy, and the WinShape Foundation:
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you saying that I can no longer, in good conscience, patronize your establishment. Nor can I partake of your delicious, succulent, juicy chicken.
I mean, I would like to. Oh trust me, I would!…
i accidentally made dave really short but i cant be bothered to go back and fix it ahehahhahahha sorry dave
This is my favorite blog post that I have ever written.Three days’ convention goodness, and awesome anime.
We decked out in our neon and hung out at the rave.
But now we’re out of Red Bull and our sticks no longer glow.
And even though I love cosplay, I’m sick of all these trolls.Thanks for coming to AUSA
And having a great time,
But now it’s time…
You don’t need me to tell you about the Dealer’s Room. It’s the place where you go to spend your money on cool (but slightly overpriced) swag. I’m sure everyone at the con has taken at least one tour through already.
I already spent my cash on what I actually wanted, and I still had some left over, so I went ahead and sprang for a grab bag: a featureless bag full of potential goodies. I like gambling, even though my luck is terrible, so why not?
The result: An XL T-Shirt for a show I don’t like, a plastic pokeball, and a fancy bag with some cute kittens.
Worth it? Not really. Maybe your luck will be better?
Anyone want an Orochimaru T-Shirt, size XL, or a Piplup keychain?
Hoping to hit the Magic: The Gathering tables sometime!Gaming Tables Open!
For those wanting to test their strategic skills, by card or by board, come to the gaming tables. Prepare to play the next winner…
The maid cafe is open! If you’re looking for lunch, a game to pat, and a slice of Japanese culture, check it out until 5 PM today or from 11 to 5 tomorrow. They have Apples to Apples!
| — | John, one of the panelists at “The Honor of a Greater Power: Rebellion, Social Activism and Terrorism in Mobile Suit Gundam,” discussing the distinction between rebellion in Gundam Wing and terrorism in Gundam 00 (via animeusa) |
