I don't have a social life, to speak of. Don't have any phobias about going outside, or anything like that. I like people, get along with most people and can function just fine, in social situations. It doesn't interest me. I don't go to clubs, casinos and stuff like that. Did that when I was younger and am kinda burned out it.
My spare time - when my grandkids aren't around and I'm not on the internet - is spent tinkering with how things work, doing goofy stuff like jumping off balconies for the hell of it... and thinking. I have many interests and think about things a lot. Sometimes, I think about thinking. Kinda weird, I guess... So other than the internet, you could say, I live mostly in my head. Only person in my head though, is me. Just me gets boring. People interest me too and interaction with others enriches our lives.
On the internet, I've 'met' people who share some of the same interests. I don't have to go to a special place, at a particular time or even get dressed, to talk with you. But, let's say I were to go out - everyday - and introduce myself to everyone I met. The chances are very low I'd meet as many people who "get me" on some level, as do here, on the web.
To me, the internet is a fountain of free knowledge, a tool for people to listen and be heard - connect with others from all over the world. Seems corny maybe, but we do touch each others' lives - some more than others and sometimes... And sometimes, in very profound ways.
On Wednesday, some of the Internet's largest entities blacked out their websites -- or their logos or some of their content -- in a protest against the SOPA and PIPA anti-piracy bills making their way through Congress.
If you're wondering whether all of this had an effect, the answer is yes. Big time.
Wikipedia, the largest Web player to block access to its pages for a full 24 hours, reports that a whopping 162 million people experienced the blackout on the online encyclopedia's landing page. In addition, 8 million U.S. readers took Wikipedia's suggestion and looked up their congressional reps from the site.
Google reported Wednesday that as of 1:30 PM PST, 4.5 million people had signed its petition asking lawmakers to reject the Stop Online Piracy Act in the House and the Protect Intellectual Property Act in the Senate.
Twitter said 2.4 million SOPA-related tweets were sent in the first 16 hours of the day Wednesday. The top five terms were SOPA, Stop SOPA, PIPA, Tell Congress, #factswithoutwikipedia.
WordPress reports that at least 25,000 WordPress blogs had joined the SOPA and PIPA protest by blacking out their blogs entirely, and an additional 12,500 had posted a "Stop Censorship" ribbon.
“The Wikipedia blackout is over and the public has spoken,” Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, said in a statement. “162 million of you saw our blackout page asking if you could imagine a world without free knowledge. You said no. You shut down the congressional switchboards, and you melted their servers. Your voice was loud and strong.” LA Times
See.. We can even use the internet to help save the internet. If you signed to Stop SOPA and/or participated in the darkout, I thank you. I'm giant hugging you in my mind because there's no image adequate, or enough space to fit a hug so giant, on the whole internet. Thank you very much!
WHAT DOES THE INTERNET MEAN TO YOU? COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME.
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