THE WEEK THAT WAS: 01.20.12

SOPA Backlash x Perry out of GOP race x Paula Deen is Loser of the Week

What caught your attention this week? Was it one of the stories below? Weigh in with your take.

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STORY OF THE WEEK:

The Online Blackout

This week several websites, lead by Wikipedia shut down to give the public a taste of what the world wide web would be like if the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) were to pass. For 24-hours, starting Wednesday, the popular online encyclopedia blacked out it's homepage causing a slight hysteria but making enough of an impact that the U.S. Senators withdrew their support of  SOPA. Petitions to stop the act recorded 4.5 million signatures. Not everyone is against the act. Hollywood, music and media industry executives want the bill to pass so they can make money of their "intellectual property."  But the story doesn't end there.

On Thursday, the Feds shut down popular download site MegaUpload.com. The site cost copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films and other content. It was unsealed on Thursday, and claims that at one point Megaupload was the 13th most popular website in the world. It was also revealed that rapper/producer Swizz Beatz was a part-owner.

In response to MegaUpload being busted, hacker group Anonymous shut down several SOPA supporter sites including the Motion Picture Association of America , RIAA, Universal Music Group and Justice.org.

Back Story

Feds say 7 behind celeb-endorsed Megaupload.com ran massive, worldwide piracy ring

Anonymous strikes back after feds shut piracy hub Megaupload

Tweet on It

@ThelIluminati Because of SOPA and PIPA, #MegaUpload was shutdown. If you don't want this to happen to Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube #RT this! #StopSOPA

BIG POLITICAL STORY

Newt's In, Perry is Out

The rollercoaster ride that is the GOP candidate campaign has lost another rider. Rick Perry dropped out of the race after weeks of WTF moments and declining support. The biggest blow was his spending $15 million to get only 14,323 votes at the influential Iowa Caucus. But before packing his bags up, Perry threw his support behind Newt Gingrich, who last week said he was the only person who could challenge Mitt Romney, might be the Rudy of this race after all.

What sites are saying:

LA Times: "Newt Gingrich praises Rick Perry, braces for ex-wife's interview"

ABC: "Will Newt Gingrich Score A South Carolina Surprise?"

Detroit Free Press: "Rick Perry abandons GOP bid, backs Newt Gingrich"

LOSER of the WEEK

Even if you've never seen an episode of Paula Deen's cooking show, this photo explains why she recently announced that she has Type-2 Diabetes. The southern cuisine cook loves butter and everything else that one shouldn't be eating if they want to have a healthy heart and fit waist. Shame on you Deen.