SOPA Sinks,  Water School Founders Retire & David Castello Rocks 

Wednesday's widespread protests led by key Internet websites in an attempt to derail the dangerous SOPA/PIPA bills in the U.S. Congress have paid off. Representative Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the chief sponsor of the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA), announced he will delay further consideration of the contentious anti-piracy bill in the House “until there is wider agreement on a solution.” Meanwhile,  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) also announced he was canceling a vote on the closely related  PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). 

Those actions have essentially killed the two bills, though we will likely see trademark interests make some changes and eventually 

come back with amended proposals. Perhaps the next iterations won't include the kind of over-reaching provisions that set off a firestorm in the Internet community as they threatened to censor or even execute websites, without due process, if someone accused them of infringement. It is good that, whatever comes next, the Internet community has shown that it will by paying close attention. 

The Water School's founders:  
Bob Dell (left) and Fraser Edwards.

After 10 years, Fraser Edwards and Bob Dell, the founders of one of the domain industry's favorite charities, The Water School, have decided it is time to retire from their day-to-day activities with the organization and step down from their respective roles as CEO (Fraser) and President (Bob).

Edwards told me a couple of years ago that this day wasn't far off but he was confident that  he and Dell had very talented young people on board that would be  ready to carry on their good work - bringing clean and safe drinking water to children in developing countries.

Edwards said, "Both Bob and I are as strongly committed to the Water School today as we have ever been. It is time for fresh ideas and energized leadership to take Water School to even greater heights and for us to spend more time with our families and friends. We will remain active in the organization through advisory roles, providing insight and encouragement as needed."

To lead the Water School going forward,  Tony Woodruff, a current board member, was named to take on the role of African Program Coordinator, and Richard Lau , a long-time board member (and domain industry pioneer), will direct the organization's administrative and global fundraising efforts. 

One of the top producers in music industry history, Bob Ezrin (who has produced Pink Floyd, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart and dozens of other heavyweights) has taken notice of the three extraordinary musicians. On Wednesday (Jan. 18, 2012), Ezrin had his engineer, Justin Cortelyou, bring Bree, David and Maryrk in to record at the House of Blues Nashville’s legendary Studio D that was just trucked 200 miles from Memphis to its new location. David told me even he was floored by how great the tracks that came out of the session sounded. So, it looks like we will all soon be able to hear what Nashville insiders are so excited about!

(Posted Jan. 20, 2012)