Fan Wars

Here's the latest evidence that the Internet is inevitably making all forms of mass media more interactive: Fans are remaking "Star Wars," one 15-second clip at a time. And it's just fine that Luke Skywalker is a little kid, and Yoda is played by the family dog, National Public Radio reports.

Blogging for Swag

Here's evidence that bloggers are gaining power and influence: corporations are beginning to toss junkets and swag their way. In particular, so-called "mommy bloggers" who write about food and household products are getting seriously wooed by companies seeking positive comments about the stuff they sell. And, according to this Los Angeles Times article, some of the bloggers get to go on some pretty cool junkets too.

Big Bird Hits Middle Age

In a television world where shows can get cancelled after a couple of episodes, the 40-year run of Sesame Street is remarkable. Has there ever been a more influential show in the history of American television? This humble blogger can't think of any.

I Think I'd Rather Have H1N1...

Computer viruses are a nuisance. Your computer slows down, or it stops, or worse, it loses some of your files. More sinister are viruses that allow others to view materials on your computer, sometimes including financial account numbers.

But the worst of all computer viruses was the subject of a recent Associated Press report. There's a virus lurking around out there that can secretly direct your computer to surf child porn sites and download creepy (not to mention illegal) photos onto your hard drive. Real pedophiles then get to view the stashes remotely and safely while the unsuspecting owner of the infected computer is the one in danger of arrest if the whole nasty matter comes to light.

Hey, Crank Up That XBox!

The music business has been hurting in recent years. There's no secret about that. And I imagine song writers and composers haven't been doing very well, either. But here's a growth area for those who make music: video game scores. NPR reports.

Profile Crashers

Facebook is an international phenomenon. Seemingly everyone has a profile, and most are confident that the privacy controls give the user considerable control over his or her information. But it's a false sense of security, according to this National Public Radio story.