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Two lessons from the Megaupload seizure. Two events this week produced some serious cognitive dissonance.

Two lessons from the Megaupload seizure

First, Congressional leaders sheepishly announced that they were withdrawing (at least for the time being) two bills heavily backed by the entertainment industry — the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House – in the wake of vocal online citizen protests (and, more significantly, coordinated opposition from the powerful Silicon Valley industry). Critics insisted that these bills were dangerous because they empowered the U.S.

Government, based on mere accusations of piracy and copyright infringement, to shut down websites without any real due process. But just as the celebrations began over the saving of Internet Freedom, something else happened: the U.S. In other words, many SOPA opponents were confused and even shocked when they learned that the very power they feared the most in that bill — the power of the U.S. Twee kaarten die de rol van de VS in het Midden-Oosten ineens duidelijker maken. Occupy Wall Street Protesters Spend Christmas in Zuccotti Park. MANHATTAN — It was a very Zuccotti Christmas.

Occupy Wall Street Protesters Spend Christmas in Zuccotti Park

Occupiers belted out carols, danced to Irish fiddle tunes and even took communion during a festive Dec. 25 reunion at the former Occupy Wall Street campsite in Lower Manhattan. "This is my home, so what better way to celebrate Christmas than with the family? " said Esmeralda, 17, who joined the movement in October and brought her friends down from Spanish Harlem to participate in the day's festivities. "That we continue to be here together when it counts, it means something. "