Thoughts on SOPA From New Orleans

In which Hank walks around the French Quarter and discusses the freaking sweet internet blackout that resulted in a great number of congresspeople dropping their support for SOPA and PIPA. The internet is coming into its own as a powerful political force, and just in time to face serious threats.

Note: All buskers in this video received at least a $5 tip. Posting a video of a busker is a really interesting intellectual property discussion, actually. If I were to take 20 videos of that one man band and create a YouTube channel all about him and then make a bunch of money off of it and not give him any, that would clearly be wrong, but it would not (as far as I can tell) be illegal. He's performing in a public space and I am thus allowed to record him. It's another example of the rule "don't be a dick" being far more important than any law congress can pass on copyright reform.

We are entering a brave new world here, thank you for standing up for the internet, helping to defeat SOPA and PIPA, and thinking deeply about these issues.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• sopa
• pipa
• new orleans
• french quarter
• internet
• protest
• blackout
• buskers
• one man band
• juggler
• dancers
• musicians

[thelittleloud1]

i love the people looking at hank in the backgroud like he is a wierdy

[vlogbrothers]

@thelittleloud1 I never quite get used to that.

[sexzymustache]

Hank, could you make a song using SAT words? Please.

Sincerely, a troubled student

[17peteclarke]

I like how tired, terrible liberals such as yourself will discuss SOPA but don't go anywhere NEAR subjects such as the possibly imminent war in Iran.

Civil rights being infringed upon on a daily basis and suffering due to disgusting corporate organisations. - "Bleh doesn't effect me."

They're taking away the internet. - "OMG EVERYONE GET HYPED UP ABOUT THIS IT'S REAL SHIT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT."

Listen to some Phil Ochs you sophomoric dullard

[EdgarxXxApproves]

@bananapop27 Oh my... very cool.

[bananapop27]

I WAS IN NEW, ORLEANS THE SAME TIME YOU WERE! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

[TheFallenFace]

Brass bands make EVERYTHING better. 

[goodmight34]

If I don't get into my first choice college, I will probably end up going to New Orleans' Tulane University, which is very far away... This video made me feel better about it, though :)

[PapilioBlue]

Of course. I lived in New Orleans until a few months ago, moved to North Carolina where I was only an hour from Asheville, and then moved back to my hometown in Eastern Oregon which is five hours from the nearest tour stop (Portland). And now I'm leaving the country. One day I will get to see Hank and John in person.

[imissrose123]

@fatzdepenguin it was the same where I live, too (Brighton, also in England, UK) but a few of my friends and me helped to spread the word, it was pretty freakin' cool to be honest.

[tombermingham28]

they just give me joy

[EhudtheDeliverer]

I'm probably just behind on the news, but what did president Obama have to do with it?