• Apparently MN is a geeky state. 57.5% of rural MN uses the net and 27% has broadband.
• If if you can't manage to figure out an excuse on your own, I think you'd be too confused by the message to use the escape-a-date message.
• And in another PR move, they want to ban spam on phones. Too bad most spam doesn't come from the US...
• XP SP2. "The idea is that if users have to actively give permission for programs to interact with their computers, there is less chance they will be hit by a virus or inadvertently allow malicious software that can monitor computer activities." Um, what? Given that half the recent onces have involved saving and opening a password protected zip file after disabling the virus scanner which is stopping them, I doubt clicking OK will do much good. Hopefully it'll prevent some of the further effects though.
• Again with the thing, MS is pushing automatic updates. And they provide phone support for people, not listed but likely 866-PC-SAFETY like before. And remember that's 866, as most users who need it would probably follow the instructions at 800-. The combination may be a good way to help get some computer problems away though.
• Look at the third paragraph here. And then never complain when someone outside Microsoft adds the $ in place of the s. Also that link could be handy. People put undue trust in big companies - use it to your advantage. They also have one on spyware.
• And not again... One person who was notified works in an unrelated area on the campus and is aware of the applicable laws (the ones cited in the letter) - which only require disclosure if the data is not encrypted. Oops.

OK, enough for now...