(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

Lest we forget that computers sometimes make errors too, here's an article about Google maps including a direction for swimming the Atlantic Ocean to get to your destination. The guys at Google have a great sense of humor.

So you have a perfectly usable version? Let's patch that up for you...

(Image is in the Public Domain)

The Consumerist is running an article explaining how both Quicken and MS Money improperly and possibly illegally force users to upgrade to newer software by purposely cutting off necessary features to older versions.

Download responsibly - which also means keeping your downloading habits private.

(Image is in the Public Domain)

Not too long ago, a good friend of mine did a lot of work in understanding how copyright holders (such as those represented by the RIAA and MPAA for example) act and react to Peer 2 Peer filesharing networks.

I managed to dig up his 20 page essay on the topic which provides an in-depth summary of the P2P issue including suggestions on how to avoid being identified on a P2P network.

This is a great resource for someone who needs historical information on the issue or who is interested in building a secure P2P app. Also see my article on avoiding P2P nightmares for parents for additional tips and tricks.

University of Nebraska

(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

In the continuing saga, the U of N is now planning to charge the RIAA $11 for each threatening e-mail sent.

"We're spending taxpayer dollars tracking down RIAA problems," Weir said. "Are we an agent of the RIAA? Why aren't they paying us for this?"

And their response:

In response to NU's request, the RIAA's Engebretsen said, "It is neither practical nor appropriate for us to entertain a reimbursement request."

(Image source is unknown)

Wisconsin may have refused to help the RIAA, but the U of N actually took it all the way:

If there were any doubt that the university is really irritated by the RIAA's requests, it has requested that the RIAA pay the university to reimburse its expenses from dealing with this

That's so awesome 😀

(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

One of the victims of the RIAA's bullying who fought back won an important victory today. The judge on her case decided that the RIAA must proceed with a jury trial or declare her the victor in the suit (which would likely result in an award of attorney fees for her).

This is important because it may expedite further lawsuits making it more viable for regular people to resist their scam tactics and putting an end to the industry of settlements that the RIAA has created.

Oh no! The university isn't letting us bully people out of money!

(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

In the RIAA's ongiong bully-lawsuit campaign, it has sent "settlement" letters to numerous Universities to be distributed to "alleged" abusers. The University of Wisconsin has refused to do so without a subpoena. Innocent before guilty? Wow. Count on a University to remember our Constitution.

(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

Now that Google is getting in the game (so-to-speak), the chance of seeing in-game advertising has just skyrocketed. Would a company like Google who tracks your searches match your ads to your search habits? Hmm…I guess Penny Arcade was right.

(Image used under: Fair Use doctrine)

In a nod to people who actually understand the consumer psyche, here's an article explaining that users are likely to find the User Account Control so annoying that they'll just turn it off.

For all the complaining, P2P filesharing has actually helped fight piracy

(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

Here's something that the RIAA and MPAA haven't admitted publicly, P2P filesharing has actually helped to kill pirates. Where once you could make real money by copying a movie and selling it at a flea-market, now that's impossible.