Intel settled with AMD to settle a legal battle over what AMD says are sketchy sales tactics. Despite the announcement of the settlement, Intel still has to deal with the antitrust charges filed by AMD to several governments.

The biggest of these is in Europe. Regulators fined Intel a record $1.45 billion over what they say was “bullying” PC makers into using Intel chips over AMD. European regulators are aware of the settlement, but, they also say it doesn’t mean Intel doesn’t have to comply with the European antitrust law.

AMD charges that Intel has used threats and financial incentives to keep AMD’s market share from rising above 20%. AMD has quoted a manager from Toshiba as saying the incentives from Intel are “like cocaine.” Similar statements have been made by reps from Gateway Computer Corp.

Intel has defended its actions, saying they are legitimate and that they benefit consumers.

AMD’s stock rose $1.19, a whopping 22%, to $6.51. Intel dropped 6 cents to $19.78.

Intel is still facing other legal issues in Korea, where a lawsuit was filed in New York by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. This filing has prompted investigation into the allegations by none other than the US Federal Trade Commission.

Read the full story here.

The Unabridged Version

The guy who did this must have had a lot of time on his hands. Or maybe he just likes to look at statistical data and show people what it translates to. Either way, it is really cool.

12) Letter writing/pen pals
Email is quicker, cheaper and more convenient; receiving a handwritten letter from a friend has become a rare, even nostalgic, pleasure. As a result, formal valedictions like “Yours faithfully” are being replaced by “Best” and “Thanks”.

16) Hoaxes and conspiracy theories
The internet is often dismissed as awash with cranks, but it has proved far more potent at debunking conspiracy theories than perpetuating them. The excellent Snopes.com continues to deliver the final, sober, word on urban legends.

See the whole list here.

In a recent study, it was found that the average US download speed only increased by nine-tenths of a megabit per second for 2008 - 2009. Booooo.

18% of people who took a speed test reported download speeds below 768 kilobits per second - can’t even be called basic. Tisk tisk.

Things aren’t all bad, especially if you live in the northeastern corner of the US.

Eight major undersea Internet communication cables cut in 2008: We most definitely do live in interesting times

We certainly do…check out the story here.

This brings to mind some questions. How did it happen is the first. Aren’t these cables located on the ocean floor? Were they cut close to the shore? What were they cut by? Why stop the Internet? If you look at the diagram, you can see that it is no small task. 2 layers of braided steel cable. Conspiracy theorists are going to have a hay day with this one. Especially since industry experts say that, on average, 1 cable per year is accidentally severed.

Who is attempting to stop the flow of information and why? Are they attempting to stop the flow to or from these places? Both?

Bettie is quoted saying “I never thought it was shameful. I felt normal.” when asked about posing for her racy pictures.

Bettie acquired her signature look in 1951, when she began posing in S&M pictures. Dark times were ahead for Page as a congressional investigation was begun. Moralists denounced the pictures as perverted, causing Bettie to withdraw from public exposure.

Page suffered a heart attack last week and was rushed to the hospital, she never regained consciousness. She was 85 years old.

Here are a few gems.

This is a picture from just down the street. Great big jade green building. Looked wonderful in the fading sunlight.