A list of the participating airports as well as other FAQ’s regarding the free Wi-Fi is offered through Google’s site.

Most Twitter users happily react to Google’s holiday spirit giveaway…

1. 
   meaghanryan Thank you Google for free WiFi at my 2 favorite (and 45 other) airports through the holidays! Love them! 10 Nov 2009 from txt
2. 
   Mona Google’s Giving Us Free WiFi for the Holidays! #gogoogle #worlddomination http://post.ly/CMCJ 11 Nov 2009 from Posterous
3. 
   flutesUD @suneilmohan ‘Cause Austin is on the list! Its unbelievable how this tech-oriented city doesn’t have free wifi @ the airport normally. 11 Nov 2009 from web in reply to suneilmohan
4. 
   bmqmen “Google, I salute you (for free airport wifi)” and related posts: Rex Hammock's RexBlog.comLong-time re.. http://bit.ly/1TNpjb 11 Nov 2009 from twitterfeed
5. 
   Alan_Wolf Free airport wifi in select cities compliments of Google through the holidays. Madison is one the towns! http://bit.ly/3RVmW5 11 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

…while some are frustrated with Google’s timing and their decision making with which airports to include.

1. 
   alexdrovna um…the WiFi was always free at McCarren in #Vegas…do not understand the point of “Google Free WiFi” 11 Nov 2009 from Echofon
2. 
   theonetruebix Not sure why I care that @google has free wifi at the PDX airport for the holidays. There’s free wifi there year-round anyway. 11 Nov 2009 from web
3. 
   jvchuy Chicago doesn’t seem to get any free wifi http://www.freeholidaywifi.com/ what’s the deal? 11 Nov 2009 from Twitterrific
4. 
   NicBall How did Google hookup free wifi in Toledo airport but not Columbus, Dayton, or Cincinnati? 11 Nov 2009 from SocialScope
5. 
   gam007 i heard on the news that google is giving away free wifi at airports.wtf.i could have used that during hurricane ike aftermath 1 yr ago 11 Nov 2009 from web

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According to TechCrunch, if you @reply someone in the past day, Conversationlist will add them to your “conversationlist” Twitter list. People on your list are automatically updated or removed depending on how often a conversation is held.

Some Twitter users remain confused with Twitter lists as well as the new addition of Conversationlist.

1. 
   goslow53 (Grand lake Colorado) I now have a Twitter conversation list. I don’t know what that is, but I got one! 10 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   ChristineNgo (San Francisco, CA) @drewber what does being on your conversation list mean? 10 Nov 2009 from web in reply to drewber
3. 
   cherluvya (Red Rock Desert, Utah) Yesterday I sent a link for the new “conversation list maker”. My list shows all my convos & those I talk to that day. Am I stalking myself? 11 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   LiteChild (Undisclosed) Oooo..wait. Maybe I need to try putting together a “list”..might make it easier to follow the conversation? Not really sure what “lists” DO? 11 Nov 2009 from web

Others see how Conversationlist can be handy and enjoy experimenting with new Twitter features.

1. 
   debkhan (London) Made @cherkoff conversation list. Yes! Now James, just give me some induction on ‘em, More lists, that’s EXACTLY what my life needs 08 Nov 2009 from web
2. 
   nessavay (portlandia) Out of the 215 people I follow, I only converse with 19. Interesting! http://conversationlist.com/ 11 Nov 2009 from web
3. 
   AnthonyFloyd (Vancouver, BC) An awesome use of Twitter lists: www.conversationlist.com 11 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   benatkin (Boulder, CO) Glad to be in the elite group with @MsHerr and @conrey in @EvilBobby’s conversation list! http://twitter.com/EvilBobby/conversationlist 11 Nov 2009 from web
5. 
   andinarvaez (MD/D.C. area) Conversationlist makes Twitter lists based on who you exchange tweets w/ n a regular basis. I’m going to try it out http://bit.ly/fIfex 11 Nov 2009 from web

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According to Telegraph.co.uk, the Itaipu dam that straddles Brazil and Paraguay, one of the largest in the world, experienced an unspecified problem, causing blackouts in both countries.

According to the BNO News Twitter account, power to Paraguay’s capital was restored shortly thereafter, but blackouts in Brazil continued, sending residents in Rio de Janeiro to Twitter for information:

1. 
   cobalto (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Lacked light throughout Brazil. Itaipu fufufu. It’s bizarre being on the internet at the moment. We are making history It! 11 Nov 2009 from web
2. 
   nathaliasch (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) It seems that a problem in the Itaipu Power Plant is leaving much of the country in darkness. The information is faster than light. 11 Nov 2009 from mobile web
3. 
   Letysilva (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) ITAIPU …. Where is the light?? QUE CALOR …!!!! 11 Nov 2009 from web
4. 
   dodsdmr (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) the apagao reaches up to Paraguay, Itaipu tá stopped … not see the light back so soon, help! 11 Nov 2009 from web
5. 
   Evelynsouza (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Man runs out of light ehm to bad! the minutes seem like eternity! Itaipu please help us!! 11 Nov 2009 from web
6. 
   jorgeodaviriato (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) This is too serious.
   Can you imagine the USA suffered nuclear arsenal and missiles fired crash? Itaipu is our nuclear arsenal. Think about 11 Nov 2009 from web

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The hijackers also leave a message on the group board reading “Hello, we hereby announce that we have officially hijacked your Facebook group,” the message reads. “This means we control a certain part of the information about you on Facebook. If we wanted we could make you appear in a bad way which could damage your image severly [sic].”

Control Your Info is a website dedicated to security on social-networking sites.  The website contains guidelines for creating content in social media, connecting with people online, and creating passwords and trusting sites.  The site also has a humorous Top 3 Don’ts page.

Many Twitter users support the actions of Control Your Info to inform people about online security.

1. 
   ahex (Bolton, Undisclosed)Reading about “Control Your Info” groups on Facebook. Excellent way to make a point imo. 10 Nov 2009 from web
2. 
   dwayneWa (Charlotte, NC) @mackenziefarone very interesting! Facebook’s group settings are quite lax…good for Control Your Info to be civil about it 10 Nov 2009 from web in reply to mackenziefarone
3. 
   SimplyH (Amstelveen, Netherlands) RT @Techmeme: Hundreds of Facebook Groups Hacked http://bit.ly/1aFUHG – luckily these were good hackers giving us a warning 10 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   dmagy (Longmont, CO)Protesters hijack more than 200 Facebook groups: http://tinyurl.com/ygej2gg [Sometimes you have to push to get someones attention] 10 Nov 2009 from web
5. 
   gilzow (Undisclosed)RT @SocialMediaSec: RT @raduboncea Facebook Hacked for Real This Time http://j.mp/2eMaAb <- some good points abt security at #facebook 10 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
6. 
   pennysaverwired (Maryland)Actually the website has some good points about info safety.. Protesters hijack more than 200 Facebook groups – http://bit.ly/129Hya #cnn 10 Nov 2009 from web

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The New Zealand Herald was just one of many outlets to report on Murdoch’s plan to block Google from searching News Corp. sites. Murdoch also threatened to sue the BBC for “allegedly stealing content” from News Corp. sources.

Rupert Murdoch has said for a few months that News Corp. is considering charging visitors for reading content from the company’s newspapers online.

Some Twitter users think that blocking Google’s access to News Corp. stories will result in a backfire for the company that owns The Wall Street Journal and The Times of London, among others.

1. 
   joewo (San Mateo, Calif.) EXCELLENT!! Rupert Murdoch says his news organizations will not be on Google. Not on Google…not seen by about 90% of searchers #FAIL #p2 10 Nov 2009 from web
2. 
   scriptdaddictd (New York City, N.Y.) Rupert Murdoch vs. Google = short match. 10 Nov 2009 from txt
3. 
   prendio2 (Undisclosed) i haven’t watched all this but Rupert Murdoch seems to be completely out of touch http://bit.ly/1oaamT found via @marshallk 10 Nov 2009 from Tweetie
4. 
   jasonblogz (Undisclosed) If Rupert Murdoch wants to charge so people will pay to read his News Corp garbage, I say let him! But what will media matters do? 10 Nov 2009 from web
5. 
   wordsdonewrite (Los Angeles, Calif.) @morganb Regarding Rupert Murdoch, he is so far in left field regarding news content. As a former staffer at LA Times, I follow him closely. 10 Nov 2009 from web in reply to morganb
6. 
   Feedjunkie (World) If The WSJ.com Says Goodbye To Google, It Will Also Say Goodbye To 25 Percent Of Its Traffic: Whenever Rupert Murdoch goes .. All-feeds.com 10 Nov 2009 from twitterfeed
7. 
   BrickCheney (Undisclosed) Rupert Murdoch says Google users aren’t good for ad revenue. This is news to Google, the world’s biggest ad company. 10 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
8. 
   mauricioswg (Undisclosed) Rupert Murdoch blocking Google reminds me of the RIAA suing Napster. Yet another example of failing to adapt. 10 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

Though Murdoch acknowledges the benefits of a highly visited search engine like Google, he does not see much danger in removing News Corp. stories from it.

The Wall Street Journal reported Google’s comments saying that news organizations are free to choose not to have their stories come up in the site’s search results.

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Many Twitter users look past any privacy concerns and agree that Dashboard is a useful tool for managing products such as gmail, YouTube, igoogle, and maps.

1. 
   dan_munz (Washington, DC) Forget Wave: This is the best thing google’s done lately | Google Dashboard lifts curtain on stored data http://tinyurl.com/yfdtjfo 05 Nov 2009 from API
2. 
   Casieg (Boston, MA) Wow…Google Dashboard is kind of awesome…I forgot I had all of those things! Now, I’ll just clear everything so Google can’t stalk me 05 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   mpietropoli (Rovigo, Italy) @MediaStorm At Google they know your mail too. What’s the matter? It’s just a dashboard. I can’t understand why I must be worried… 06 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to MediaStorm
4. 
   nhancox (Texas) Google Dashboard was a great move by Google. I think it will really help make people feel safer about their information. It’s quite helpful. 08 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

Others are not convinced that Dashboard is as private as it says it is and are somewhat distraught at the amount of user information stored in one place.

1. 
   randyjensen (Undisclosed) Looking at Google’s Privacy Dashboard, realizing I have no privacy. 05 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   Martinmalone77 (Manchester) Going to the doctors this morning for a checkup, can’t they just access my ‘Google dashboard’ seems to know everything about me!! 06 Nov 2009 from Tweetie
3. 
   yogeshmalik (Gurgaon, India) Realized that new http://google.com/dashboard knows too much about me. I have browsing history for last 5 years. this is great. 07 Nov 2009 from HootSuite
4. 
   FrankMullens (Agoura Hills, California) Google Dashboard: Transparent, maybe. Private? Not so much http://bit.ly/mBe5D 09 Nov 2009 from web
5. 
   Soliah (Sydney, Australia) Oh Google Dashboard. I use way too many Google products. They own all my information 09 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

A short video made by Google explaining the benefits of Dashboard was included in an article by Fast Company – Fast Company sums up the argument nicely by saying that Dashboard is a step forward, but doesn’t offer much in genuine control.

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WAToday.com reported that past and present students are responsible for the group’s creation and described themselves as “anti-consent” in the description.

The group, titled “Define Statutory,” is just part of what the Sydney Morning Herald reported as a much bigger problem on these elite college campuses where there is a lack of respect for women by some men.

Twitterers are disgusted that this group existed, though some are saying that it does not come as a surprise.

1. 
   maxine (Sydney, Australia) Least surprising news story of the morning: “Elite college students proud of ‘pro-rape’ Facebook page” http://bit.ly/4AWKzA 08 Nov 2009 from Tweetie
2. 
   nellieoconnor (Sydney, Australia) Am disgusted by the USyd College ‘pro-rape’ facebook site. I hope it was in jest, but some things just aren’t funny. http://bit.ly/B8bWb 08 Nov 2009 from web
3. 
   Jen_Bennett (Sydney, Australia) Misogyny, rape at Sydney Uni colleges not super surprising, just depressing. What year is it again? http://bit.ly/1nSo1P (via @rachelhills) 08 Nov 2009 from web
4. 
   auswonderwoman (Melbourne, Australia) Elite University of Sydney college students proud of ‘pro-rape’ Facebook page. Disgusting and disgraceful! 08 Nov 2009 from web
5. 
   theastonshuffle (Canberra, Australia) horrible, but im not surprised RT @SBSNews: pro-rape Facebook site set up by students of elite colleges http://bit.ly/2BNgBY (via @radger) 09 Nov 2009 from Twitterrific
6. 
   JoinTheFarQ (Sydney, Australia) Please prosecute these ‘ Pro-Rape’ facebook group of weak, scum, idiots: http://bit.ly/4rZWm2 09 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
7. 
   PeterBlackQUT (Brisbane, Australia) this sounds like an american frat house, not an australian uni: “elite college students proud of pro-rape facebook page” http://j.mp/27ybUu 09 Nov 2009 from BigTweet

School officials are “sickened” by the issue and believe that the binge drinking lifestyle that is common on college campuses is partly to blame for women feeling unsafe.

While the University is looking into the issue further, no action has been taken yet against the students responsible for the group, ABC News in Australia reported.

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According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Facebook claimed Wallace violated the federal anti-spam law, known as CAN-SPAM, roughly 14 million times. Wallace allegedly sent numerous Facebook members a link to a website which tricked them into revealing their login information. Wallace then used these accounts to spam the account holders’ friends with phony messages and wall posts.

“While we don’t expect to receive the vast majority of the award, we hope that this will act as a continued deterrent against these criminals,” read an official statement released by the Facebook legal team. “Most notably, the judge referred Wallace to the U.S. Attorney’s Office with a request that Wallace be prosecuted for criminal contempt, which means that in addition to the judgment, he now faces possible jail time. This is another important victory in our fight against spam. We will continue to pursue damages against other spammers.”

Rather than bidding the ’spam king’ a fond farewell, most Twitterers made light of the situation, some wanting to know what is going to happen to all that money:

1. 
   IMN_ (Petersburg, VA) Facebook was awarded $711 million in a spam suit?? Are you kidding me?? Wtf! As if they needed any MORE funding for anything.. Capitalism :/ 30 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter
2. 
   dwlz (Los Angeles, CA) It’s plain ridiculous that Facebook just got awarded $711 million in spam “damages”. What do the people who were spammed get, if anything? 30 Oct 2009 from web
3. 
   badcharts (Austin, TX) Facebook awarded $711 million in case against spammer. I think this must have something to do with FarmTown updates. 30 Oct 2009 from HootSuite
4. 
   KristofferMarc (California) Hi FaceBook, can i get in on that $711 million dollar settlement? No, that’s cool.How about having your iphone application actually work? 30 Oct 2009 from Tweetie
5. 
   CubanCherub (Undisclosed) Facebook wins $711 million in spam lawsuit. FB said that the award, made in Calif, was the “2nd largest in history” for an anti-spam action. 30 Oct 2009 from web
6. 
   helveticavtimes (Undisclosed) HvT: Facebook Spammer Has to Pay $711 Million, Your Annoying ‘Friends’ Still Free to Poke You 30 Oct 2009 from Twitter Tools
7. 
   AaronDavidWard (Ballston Spa, NY) A spammer owes $234 million to MySpace and $711 million to Facebook…and millions of hours to social networkers who have to delete. 01 Nov 2009 from web

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Among one of the most unsuspected to have lost their job with MS is Don Dodge (@dondodge) – Microsoft’s Director of Business Development for the Emerging Business Team – according to a TechCrunch article. Despite being laid off, Dodge is rather optimistic in his blog.

It’s estimated that after the program is done eliminating jobs, approximately 6.3% of the company’s employees will have been let go.

It’s no surprise that Twitter is full of comments regarding the current situation, affecting people both involved and uninvolved with Microsoft.

1. 
   peHUB (Boston) I look forward to what you’ll do next. RT @dondodge:Goodbye Microsoft, I have been laid off in the latest round of cuts http://bit.ly/40GW3V 04 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   dbonev (Sofia, Bulgaria) MS laid off @dondodge! This is not simply a HUGE mistake! This simply sucks. I’m sure he’ll quickly find the next big thing. MS loses. A lot 04 Nov 2009 from web
3. 
   amananderson (Orlando, FL) MIcrosoft announces lay-off of 800 staff today, what’s Apples Secret? I think Apple laid off like 100 people in 2007? – http://tr.im/E9Tf 04 Nov 2009 from DestroyTwitter
4. 
   defrag (Denver) i’d hate to be the moron that decided to let don dodge go (not knowing the PR sh&tstorm that’d happen). wow. 04 Nov 2009 from web
5. 
   michblondin (Boston, MA) Microsoft cuts another 800 jobs… just when you think things might turn around.. http://ow.ly/zi4v 04 Nov 2009 from HootSuite
6. 
   joshdusseau (undisclosed) whats the world comeing to when microsoft is cutting jobs 04 Nov 2009 from txt

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About a month ago, there were severe problems with data retrieval and their popular phone, the Sidekick. The hashtag #TMobileFail became a Twitter trending topic during the week of these problems. People were outraged with the lack of information the company was giving back to their customers.

Once again, T-Mobile users are having difficulties with their service.

PCMag.com reports on the issue, saying that T-Mobile has confirmed service outages all over the country. They also discuss the masses of outraged people who have taken to their Twitter:

1. 
   djjnyce (Undisclosed) Wow so I tried callin my tmobile phone from my verizon phone that shit says disconnected I call tmobile customer service and the lines busy 04 Nov 2009 from UberTwitter
2. 
   AnuvaAmor33 (Atlanta, GA) my phone is currently not working thanks to u tmobile 04 Nov 2009 from mobile web
3. 
   x_stineyy (Undisclosed) I hate tmobile -_- 04 Nov 2009 from txt
4. 
   RCheek20 (Cincinnati, OH) Really considering at&t or verizon who’s wit me..tmobile sux 04 Nov 2009 from twidroid
5. 
   jceja1 (Tempe, AZ) tmobile better give us some type of discount for the lack of service 04 Nov 2009 from MySpace

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