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Everyone's favorite weak link is revealed in the article:

U.S. authorities are investigating whether Chinese officials secretly copied the contents of a government laptop computer during a visit to China by Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and used the information to try to hack into Commerce Department computers.

The government has more secure systems for people's laptops, like Bastile Linux, and should be using them instead of a consumer grade OS that was never intended to store anything more important than Solitair. When insecure systems are used to access secure systems, security falls to the level of the weak system.

According to Bloomberg, Microsoft has appealed the EU's $1.35B ruling against them: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aFpXl7.5U_a4&refer=home

I for one, do not understand what additional clarity Microsoft is seeking... "You've been found guilty. Here is the fine" (and hopefully some more penalties for wasting more of the court's time). Seems pretty darn clear to me.

Star Trek Phase 2 (formerly Star Trek New Voyages) continues to raise the bar on "fan productions" with their latest episode: World Enough and Time. Currently the STP2 team has been nominated for a Hugo, Peabody and Nebula Award - and won TV Guide's Best Online Sci-Fi Webisode for 2007 against such big names as Battlestar Galactica and The 4400.

How much longer before "fan films" seriously enter contention in markets currently held by "the big studios" and how can the studios continue to compete with ORIGINAL fan-based productions that show the same level of professional results, great storytelling and understanding of core audience wants? At what point do the studios need to re-think their methodology in order to capture and keep such audiences? What do they need to start doing differently to stay more in touch with their fan base?

And how can a fan film such as Star Trek Phase 2, which is based off someone else's universe, garner more interest and more viewers for their project - especially considering they can't make money off it, the project is all volunteer, and the project is funded by those same volunteers?

Star Trek Phase 2's website can be found at http://www.startrekphase2.com/ and posters, wallpaper and more can be found on their Media site here: http://www.startrekphase2media.com/ - check them out, I am glad I did!

The Washington Post reports that "In legal documents (filed by the RIAA) in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR2007122800693.html

If the RIAA manages to win this one, anyone space shifting or archiving their music becomes a "criminal" in their eyes and the eyes of the law. It is nice to see though, that the RIAA is able to continue their trend of taking these lawsuits from the level of "stupid" to "insane" - but makes one wonder when their games at trying to redefine copyright law and the principles of Fair Use will end?

In yet another re-definition of an existing term, Microsoft's Xbox Live Team has redefined the term "Up and Running" to mean not really running at all...

From the Xbox Live Support Page:

Xbox Support Page: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/

So, now Microsoft's definition of "Up and running" means "Virtually everything is experiencing problems of a nature that won't allow you to do anything, and we can't even pull up your account data to try to help you."

Children herded into Maryland Courthouse like cattle for forced vaccinations, while armed police and attack dogs stand guard

From NewsTarget: http://www.newstarget.com/022267.html

From the article, not just are there no laws on the books in Maryland requiring mandatory vaccination, but they are using irrelevant laws to wrongfully hold parents and wrongfully separate them from their children for up to 30 days. In addition, the vaccinations contain chemicals known to be harmful (including: thimerosal, a chemical additive containing a neurotoxic form of mercury).

How much longer before everything we are subjected to is based off some corporate whim mandated by the government of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations? I'm curious what involvement the particular drug manufacturers in Maryland have in this debacle, or if this is just a case of government stepping in where it shouldn't?

Today, Apple has announced a revamping of the iPod line. The new lineup includes a iPod Nano 3G (3rd Gen), iPod Classic and iPod Touch (iPhone style but slimmer). Apple also announced price cuts on the 8GB iPhone to $399.

More information and other product announcements can be found via EnGadget at EnGadget: Steve Jobs Live Apples The Beat Goes On Special Event