"In London today a gang war broke out over a territorial dispute. However, the territory was not physical space, but a wireless cloud of bandwidth. The dispute erupted when a Wi-fi user of a local free network connection accused another of dropping in on his wave. "Not only did this newbie drop in, he launched a p2p flood.", said one of the local Wibos.

Several laptops were broken in the fight, and one Wibo was taken to hospital for the removal of a PCMCIA Card. Residents of the casual cafe strip expressed some distress at the increase chalk markings that have appeared, and the rise of threatening looking white bespeckled males."

OK. Maybe not. But I think it's worth while setting some ground rules for the use of the Wi-fi freenets that are popping up, especially with the increased profile via warchalking.

Warchalking - Collaboratively creating a hobo-language for free wireless networking.

One of my newer hobbies is war-driving. If you are not familiar with what war-driving is, simply check out sites like Wardriving.com and Netstumbler. Basically, it's driving around and discovering wireless networks. I war-drive with one general purpose--to gauge the growth of WiFi (802.11b) use in the Northern Virginia area. I do not war-drive with the intent to steal Internet access, sniff network traffic, or break into computers. In fact, I usually don't man the laptop--I simply drive.

A VERY Nice War-driving Setup

Playboy on Wednesday introduced the stars of its "Women of Enron" issue, current and former employees of the Houston energy trading giant who show their stuff in an issue set to hit newsstands nationally on Friday.

Four of the 10 women featured in the photo spread appeared at a news conference Wednesday across the street from the corporate headquarters of Enron Corp., which filed the largest-ever U.S. bankruptcy last year after its cooked books exploded.

The four also appeared in front of the Enron offices by the ubiquitous "crooked E" sign -- in a clothed reprise of the picture that leads off the photo layout. Enron's secretive accounting prompted calls for greater corporate disclosure -- and it comes in 10 full-color pages in Playboy's August issue.

The 10 models were culled from among more than 300 who auditioned with Playboy, the flagship and namesake for Chicago-based adult media conglomerate Playboy Enterprises Inc.

The now-familiar gleaming silver towers that Enron calls home appear in the photo spread as a background for a naked Shari Daugherty, an Enron computer security administrator. Daugherty, who posed nude on the roof of a neighboring parking garage, said she has no regrets about her work for Enron or Playboy.

"I think both associations are fine. People know that Enron had the creme de la creme when they hired them," she said, adding that she thinks Playboy's reputation is classy.

Playboy's 'Women of Enron' Debuts in Houston

HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 24 — While Washington lawmakers are cracking down on traditional offshore corporate maneuvers to avoid taxes, another strain has sprouted that could be costing Uncle Sam billions: Companies are stashing their intellectual property abroad to shelter income from overseas sales.
The transfer of intellectual property — such as trademarks and patents — has become so widespread that it has prompted an aggressive crackdown by the Internal Revenue Service on alleged abuses that one IRS consultant says could eventually involve tax claims in the tens of billions of dollars. Computer companies, drug firms and others that derive most of their value from research and ideas find the tactic particularly attractive.

A new twist in tax avoidance: Moving intellectual property offshore could cost U.S. billions

check it...

PriceWaterHouseCoopers is changing their name

A banker's view: "Let the ailing networks rot."

Telecom Outlook: First the Bad News, Then the Bad News

Nacchio, who has been criticized for often being combative with the company's shareholders, is the latest chief executive of a large corporation to resign amid questions over accounting practices and corporate governance procedures.

Qwest Ousts Its Chief Executive

WOODS PICKED UP Friday where he left off in the first round, shooting a 2-under 68 to stand at 5-under 135 midway through the Open.
He had a five-stroke lead on a soggy, gloomy day, which left everyone else struggling just to break par.
Most of top contenders, including Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson, teed off late in the incessant rain, facing an already fearsome course that was dotted with impromptu rivers.
In those conditions, no one made a run at Woods. Still, he refused to declare victory.
“I’ve still got to play 36 holes,” he said. “It’s not over yet.”

Woods extends lead at U.S. Open - Tiger finishes second round with 2-under 68 despite rain

Several investors were specifically critical of the company's decision to pay Ebbers a $1.5 million annual pension for the rest of his life. Sidgmore defended the package as fair and not atypical of the industry.

Sidgmore, who said company executives would go on a major customer and investor tour in the next two to three weeks, said the details of the strategic plan would be finalized "some time in the next few weeks." The plan will include how many jobs are to be cut and identify what facilities, businesses or real estate to close or sell.

Sidgmore said he believes the company can cut as much as $1 billion of its capital spending budget, a level expected by many analysts. While he did not specify the number of jobs that will be cut, analysts expect it to be up to 16,000, or 20 percent of the work force.

Ex-CEO of WCOM gets $1.5 million for the rest of his life in pension payments + more layoffs.

Bethpage Black is no longer the most frightening thing about this U.S. Open. It’s the sight of Tiger Woods on his game and in the lead.
NEVER MIND THAT 16 PLAYERS didn’t record a single birdie and 15 guys couldn’t even break 80. Or that only six players broke par Thursday, the smallest number in the first round of a U.S. Open since no one did at windy Shinnecock Hills in 1986.
A beast of a course only brought out the best in the world’s No. 1 player.
“I tried to stay out of trouble as much as I could,” Woods said after a 3-under 67, breaking down a torturous day into a simple explanation.

Tiger birdies 18th to lead Open by 1