[Recovering_Democrat]

I have an acquaintance who works for a liberal media outlet. Her testimony is that Google and Wikipedia are the MAIN sources of research in the realm of journalism. When the internet goes down in the "news" area, there is much pain, since many of the "journalists" there are not used to having to *work* to gather information.

Seeing what passes for news these days, I believe it.

[Recovering_Democrat]

If you really want to read Wikipedia, here is a sneaky way to do it:

http://www.i-programmer.info/news/81-web-general/3632-how-to-read-wikipedia-through-the-backout.html

[Sun]

This is a good time to try something else:

http://www.conservapedia.com/Main_Page

[snowsislander]

Actually, if you are have turned off Javascript or are using a plugin like NoScript, you can still read (but not edit) Wikipedia.

Sites like wordsake.com, however, are actually not available.

[TigersEye]

Perhaps jornolists will have to actually find their own primary sources the way real journalists used to do in pre-Progressive-history.

[rhombus]

I have an acquaintance who works for a liberal media outlet. Her testimony is that Google and Wikipedia are the MAIN sources of research in the realm of journalism. When the internet goes down in the "news" area, there is much pain, since many of the "journalists" there are not used to having to *work* to gather information.

I'm old enough to remember when people had to depend on the "work" of "journalists". No way do I ever, ever want to go back to the days when Cronkite's droppings were considered manna from heaven, TET was a military disaster and no one any "journalists" knew voted for Reagan. With the Internet, we are all journalists now.

[PreciousLiberty]

The important thing is the point of the blackout: SOPA and PIPA are horrible ideas, and need to be squashed.

For one thing, freerepublic.com would likely be shut down shortly after they become law.

Let your elected representatives know that this legislation must not become law, or you will look elsewhere for leadership.

[KosmicKitty]

I just got to wikipedia with no problems

Guess it was jut a really short black out

[Darksheare]

The DHS monitors reporters now too.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2830900/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2830873/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2833099/posts

It’s a short distance from monitoring to actively censoring/censuring those critical of the regime.
Or, disappearing.
SOPA likely is intended to keep such info from being on the net at all.