New Solar Storm Trumps 2005 Storm

  Solar storms are caused by an eruption from the Sun's surface (solar flare) that affects the Earth's atmospheric activity. They have a tendency to disrupt radio feed/frequencies from satellites and can knock out electrical feeds. The largest solar storm in recorded history occurred in 2005. It affected satellites communications and radio frequencies on a massive scale. Today NASA has detected a massive solar storm, that tops the 2005 storm, will reach its peak on Tuesday January 24, 2012. This will greatly affect satellite linked devices such as GPSs, Televisions, airline communications, etc. There is a possibility that the local power grids may be knocked out for a short period of time because of the atmospheric disruptions.

However there is one upside for sightseers and tourists. There is a possibility of auras that could spread through parts of North America, which do provide a fantastic light show for those who are interested in ‘shinny things’.

Aside from the auras, it is crucial to be on the lookout for the electrical disruptions that may be caused by the storms.  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/biggest-solar-storm-since-2005-underway-will-peak-tuesday/2012/01/23/gIQAivH6KQ_story.html?hpid=z2

 The Fight With Piracy: Twitter Refuses to Pick a Side 

   Piracy is a major problem on the internet that has yet to be solved. Piracy is an unfortunate consequence for disagreements between different parties who are either looking for a 'quick buck' or want to give others a more 'fair' price, view, etc on some type of product or piece of information. On some sites like Wikipedia, Reddit, and Boing Boing, are being major sites for piracy. In the Stop Online Piracy Act, which is to protect copyrighted works and to cut down on the misuses, distribution, illegal purchasing of industry owned products and information. In short the act gives the United States government the power to block any site on the internet that is exploiting the use of Piracy. In an effort to stop this the sites listed above is are blacking out their services,  meaning that they will restrict access to any English information on the site. 

     In order to win this fight against the Piracy Act, these sites are trying to rally Twitter, to their cause. Twitter however is not going to take any side in the on going battle and is remaining on a double opposing side which opposes both bills. The debate continues on a boarder line of 'what is appropriate and what is not appropriate' on the internet. To any stand point its fair to say that piracy is something that needs to be taken care of to the extent of copyright. Some sites should be indeed taken down because of their piracy and others like not. 

     Social communities such as DeviantArt and FanFiction have their own problems with minor piracy from members on their own sites, but not to the extent of Wikipedia.  So far they are not in this total fight with the major piracy and that is how the founders of Twitter view this situation. Twitter being a social networking site like Facebook feel they should be excluded from this debate. Social Networking sites do not contain much piracy therefore have no reason to deal with anti piracy acts or rebelling against them.     

     All in all Twitter is currently choosing to stay out of the food fight between the Government and other internet sites with this bill. Ultimately it will come down to more sites to rally to either side or for the people to speak up against the government. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/sopa-twitter-will-not-join-wikipedia-reddit-in-blackout/2012/01/17/gIQAvDta5P_story.html