Quit and Go Legit, Please

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I remember a few years ago when my kids begged to be allowed to download Kazaa, Limewire, Morpheus or any popular file-sharing software onto our family PC. The answer was always a resounding NO! because I knew the sites trafficked illegal music files. They also were magnets for malware. I promised they'd be rewarded for their patience, and indeed they were among the first of their friends to get an iPod on which to download their favorite, legally obtained music off iTunes.

Meantime, I was getting eyerolls from my college students, whom I warned to get Kazaa and other P2P network share software off their PCs. When the lawsuits from the recording industry hit hard here, I felt vindicated.

I'm again feeling smug as I read about an Australian court's decision to hold Sharman Networks, which created Kazaa and its siblings, financially responsible for the royalties lost to musicians for letting its members trade copyrighted music at will. U.S. courts are expected to rule similarly.

Miscellany
Kudos to another blogger for giving high-fives to the U.S. Coast Guard during Hurricane Katrina rescue operations. It was nice to see those helos on the spot and officials and rescue swimmers highlighted on the cable news stations.

Next time someone ribs me about dumb decisions due to my southern education, I'm going to point them to this Rhode Island runner that needs more than his stomach pumped.

Speaking of that education, I must now comment at least once a week on my beloved Hokie football team. On Sunday, the team beat N.C. State 20-16 in a tight game that included some impressive moves and questionable calls on both sides of the gridiron. The Wolfpack was the only ACC team to beat Virginia Tech last year, so we're off to an excellent start.

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