News and amusing things from internet sites.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 28 Aug 2008 7:37:25 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35962/hackers-spread-coupon-scam.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAn online coupon scam could cost manufacturers millions, and years, to clean up, the Seattle Times reports. A California company says coupons it created as part of a marketing pitch were hacked and distributed across the internet. The firm responded by canceling all coupons related to the scheme, embarrassing even those customers who had legitimate ones.http://www.newser.com/story/35962/hackers-spread-coupon-scam.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 27 Aug 2008 15:49:57 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35871/facebooks-vision-nets-100-million-users.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFacebook has just crossed the 100-million-user plateau, and it’s more notable than when MySpace achieved the feat 2 years ago, Stan Schroeder writes on Mashable. First of all, Facebook says it counts only active users, unlike its rival. But more importantly, Facebook has a vision of how to cater to and expand its user base—and how to make money.http://www.newser.com/story/35871/facebooks-vision-nets-100-million-users.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 26 Aug 2008 15:19:23 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35353/british-game-companies-target-25k-downloaders.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA group of five of the world’s top computer-game makers are getting tough on illegal downloaders, the Times of London reports, demanding settlements of about $555 from 25,000 people across Britain. Those who refuse to settle will be taken to court, the companies—Atari, Topware Interactive, Reality Pump, Techland and Codemasters—are threatening.http://www.newser.com/story/35353/british-game-companies-target-25k-downloaders.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 20 Aug 2008 11:58:27 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35247/test-prep-firm-accidentally-publishes-student-data.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAn error in the Princeton Review’s website left personal information and standardized test scores for tens of thousands of students exposed on the internet for 7 weeks, the New York Times reports after a rival test-prep firm informed the newspaper. Data on 34,000 students from Sarasota, Fla., and another 74,000 in Fairfax County, Va., were available before the company closed it off.http://www.newser.com/story/35247/test-prep-firm-accidentally-publishes-student-data.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 19 Aug 2008 11:57:29 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34628/new-media-thwart-edwards-olympics.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe mainstream media aren't the arbiter of news anymore—every man, woman, and child with a mouse is, according to David Carr of the New York Times. For proof, look no further than the Olympics opening ceremonies or the John Edwards scandal. No matter how hard it tried, NBC couldn’t prevent footage of the ceremonies from leaking, nor could mainstream indifference kill the blogger-driven Edwards story.http://www.newser.com/story/34628/new-media-thwart-edwards-olympics.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 11 Aug 2008 8:51:02 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34597/rick-astley-watch-your-virtual-back.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe infamous (and infamously annoying) stunt known as a "RickRoll"—a Web link allegedly of interest to the recipient that actually leads to a YouTube video of Rick Astley singing "Never Gonna Give You Up"—has a sequel, E! reports: the "Barackroll." It intercuts footage of Barack Obama speeches with dance moves from his appearance on the Ellen show. Click the window on the left, and get the song stuck in your head, too.http://www.newser.com/story/34597/rick-astley-watch-your-virtual-back.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 10 Aug 2008 23:41:34 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34540/patch-for-major-security-flaw-is-ineffective.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA fatal flaw in Internet security has a patch, but it’s a leaky one, the New York Times reports. Yesterday, a Russian scientist demonstrated an attack that secretly redirected web traffic. It took him just hours using standard equipment; before the patch, it would have taken seconds. Thieves could use the method to hijack a user’s bank or credit card information.http://www.newser.com/story/34540/patch-for-major-security-flaw-is-ineffective.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 09 Aug 2008 9:52:58 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33995/hes-a-goofy-dancer-not-a-prophet-of-peace.html?refid=rss_all_defaultNo doubt you've seen or heard of the YouTube phenomenon in which Matt Harding dances his way across the world and its cultures, set to a New Age song poem. And no doubt you've heard fans refer to Harding as nothing less than a purveyor of world peace. But please, let's give it a rest, writes Meghan Daum in the Los Angeles Times .http://www.newser.com/story/33995/hes-a-goofy-dancer-not-a-prophet-of-peace.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 12:46:57 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33992/6-degrees-of-separation-new-study-says-66.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA huge Microsoft study of its Messenger records bolsters the oft-quoted, but never proven, theory of “six degrees of separation"—almost. The study puts the figure at 6.6, but that's still a pretty small world. A Microsoft researcher analyzed 30 billion messages sent among 180 million users worldwide and found that most people could be linked by a string of fewer than 7 acquaintances, the Washington Post reports.http://www.newser.com/story/33992/6-degrees-of-separation-new-study-says-66.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 10:06:40 CDT