This morning as I was scanning through the free apps newly available for iPad (my daily “shopping” spree–but only in the free category), I was also indulging in my daily ritual of giggling at some of the written descriptions of the apps.  Clearly these aren’t all written by English speakers, as evidenced by this write-up for AirBookReaderFree: “You would be the one who knows well about PC and can convert files and transfer the files to your iPhone or iPad. However, can your family does?  Can your mother convert ebook files? AirBookReader is a perfect ebook reader for the such people.”

Can your family does?  This morning we have an answer! Our internet “family” of THIRTEEN MILLION activists just drop-kicked the threatening SOPA/PIPA legislation right off the U.S. Senate floor!  Here’s an excerpt from the email I just received from the Fight for Freedom group:

A big hurrah to you!!!!! We’ve won for now — SOPA and PIPA were dropped by Congress today — the votes we’ve been scrambling to mobilize against have been cancelled.

The largest online protest in history has fundamentally changed the game.  You were heard.

On January 18th, 13 million of us took the time to tell Congress to protect free speech rights on the internet. Hundreds of millions, maybe a billion, people all around the world saw what we did on Wednesday.  See the amazing numbers here and tell everyone what you did.

This was unprecedented. Your activism may have changed the way people fight for the public interest and basic rights forever.

The MPAA (the lobby for big movie studios which created these terrible bills) was shocked and seemingly humbled.  “‘This was a whole new different game all of a sudden,’ MPAA Chairman and former Senator Chris Dodd told the New York Times. ‘[PIPA and SOPA were] considered by many to be a slam dunk.’”

“’This is altogether a new effect,’ Mr. Dodd said, comparing the online movement to the Arab Spring. He could not remember seeing ‘an effort that was moving with this degree of support change this dramatically’ in the last four decades, he added.”

Tweet with us, shout on the internet with us, let’s celebrate: Round of applause to the 13 million people who stood up  – #PIPA and #SOPA are tabled 4 now. #13millionapplause

So now we know: our internet family CAN does make a difference!