Microsoft Faces Fine

     Warsaw - Microsoft agreed nearly three years ago to allow European consumers better access to rival browsers.  Microsoft acknowledged its error in not distributing its software in a manner that allowed other browsers such as Mozilla's Firefox and Safari.  Microsoft, the world's largest software company, has blamed the three-year delaly on a technical glitch.  "The size of the fine could be fairly significant," says anti-trust lawyer Rachel Bickler.  See also, www.nytimes.com.

Necessary Extraditions of Britains to America

     Washington - The United States does not see itself as an arrogant, prosecution-happy country, eager to mete out vigilante justice to Americans and non-Americans alike.  Spokespeople in Washington, D.C. say  a treaty signed in 2003 is good as it stands written.  But, to others in Britain, e.g. 24 year-old Richard O'Dwyer of Bolsover, England, the treaty is a sign of an Anglo-American extradition agreement that's grossly weighted in favor of the United States.  O'Dwyer is accused of running an illegal website.  The issue has gotten particular attention lately because of the case of Julian Assange, the founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks.  See also, www.nytimes.com.

Apple Rolls Out Newest Product Free of Patent Infringements

     According to a judge at the International Trade Commission (ITC), Friday, September 14, 2012, Apple Inc. did not violate patents owned by Samsung Electronics in making the iPod, iTouch, iPad.  See also, www.wired.com.

Michael Jackson Was Day-To-Day On Concert Tour

     Los Angeles - 250 pages of email messages illuminate the extent top executives were aware of doubts about Michael Jackson's stability as they prepared for a 50-show concert run at a London arena.  See also, www.ew.com.

CNN Faces Declining Ratings

     With people able to get news and information around the clock  CNN finds itself with plunged ratings.  The cable news network (CNN) that dominated political talk shows during the 1990s has shrunk in ratings by as much as 40% compared to four years ago.  Critics say the Time-Warner owned network is rudderless, not suggesting how people should vote.  A long term policy at CNN has been to avoid taking sides.  Now, some people in the industry are saying CNN should be more like Fox and MSNBC.  See also, www.ew.com.

New "Live!" Co-host Michael Strahan Was Most Concerned About Not Tripping

     New York - Michael Strahan's only worry when he made his entrance Tuesday, September 4, 2012, as the new co-host of  "Live!" was, "Dont trip", he summed up after the show.  Strahan will continue as a host of "Fox NFL Sunday", which originates from Los Angeles, where he lives.  He will commute to New York to do "Live!"  See also, www.nytimes.com.

Olympians Still See Television As a Second Career

     Olympians have a small amount of time to cash in on their gold medals.  Olympians can extend their visibility, by transitioning into a career on television.  In recent years more than a dozen Olympians have gone to television for a job, including:  gymnast Shawn Johnson ("Dancing With The Stars"), short-track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno ("Dancing With The Stars"), gymnast Gabby Douglas ("America's Got Talent"), swimmer and aspiring actor Ryan Lochte ("90210", "Fashion Police", and "The Tonight Show"), and decathlete Bruce Jenner ("The Kardashians").  For an increasing number of image-savvy olympic athletes, working on television has become at least as appealing as appearing on the from of a wheaties  box.  Evan Morganstein, chief executive of PMG Sports, an agency that represents swimmer Mark Spitz says, "they're forced to do this because the athletes are paid a relatively meager stipend, even though their efforts generate billions of dollars for the International Olympic Committee.