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Well, using the level of deceit as a metric, it's plain to see that there are a growing number of wars taking place in the technology sector.

First there's "SpinCO" (otherwise known as SCO) who continue to try and prop up their lacklustre stock by promising to sue the entire world for infringing their patents... or was it trade secrets? ...or was it their copyright? ...or was it for breaching their end-user contracts?

As I've reported here before, SpinCO used to be a pretty big name in the world of Unix -- but over time that presence has been eroded by the huge growth in Linux. Now, finding themselves technologically outgunned at every turn, SpinCO has refocused itself and become a "spin" company and litigator rather than a software vendor.

I would just love to know what percentage of their revenues are being spent on lawyers and spin-doctors.

There are those who argue that SpinCO is doing little more than engaging in a "pump and dump" strategy designed to allow some stock-holders to walk away with a pretty penny while others get left holding an empty shell.

The fact that the US legal system has allowed the fiasco to drag out for as long as it has is a sorry commentary on just how great the divide between law and justice has become.

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And then, on the second battlefield, we have the music industry.

Like SpinCO, they've simply failed to adapt to a changing marketplace and now find themselves performing heart-massage on 1970's technology that has succumbed to the technology of the 21st century.

Rather than examining their own shortcomings, the music industry has opted to blame others for their woes.

It's those damned P2P users, the internet, aliens from outer space -- in fact everyone except the industry's own lame management, sloth and greed.

The same goes for SpinCO -- hell, like the RIAA, they've both lost the plot to such an extent that they're now suing their own customers!

Now there's still some hope that the recording industry will wake up and taste the reality of the 21st century before their customers discover that there's a whole lot of indie music out there that is as good or even better than the big-label trash. I fear however, it's just too late for SpinCO.

SpinCO is now so totally committed to earning its revenues through the courts that its fate is sealed. I honestly can't understand why anyone would be holding SpinCO stock right now -- but obviously many are. Perhaps these are the same people who spent up large during the mid-1980's and the dot-com boom.

A Favour Needed
On The Discovery Channel this weekend (Sunday @ 6:30pm I believe), there's an episode of Junkyard Wars titled "Jet Trikes" being broadcast.

I wonder if some kind soul could record this for me and send me the tape?

It's an episode that was produced nearly two years ago (good to see Sky being so up-to-date in its programming!) and features a couple of mates of mine from the USA as "experts" so I'd like to see it.

If you can oblige, just drop me an line.

Next Week
SpinCO are apparently hassling some Kiwi companies in their ridiculous endeavours to extort money. I plan to ring SpinCO and interview them to find out exactly how they can justify their ridiculous behaviour (although I think we already know).

Having taken on board the comments of readers in respect to the Magazine section of Aardvark, the full-blown thing will launch next week, complete with the XML-enabled TV guide (fingers crossed).

If you've got some content you'd like included in the new magazine section then drop me a line. I'm not just talking about text here -- if you're an aspiring photographer, cartoonist or whatever then pitch your offerings to me. There's no payment involved but your stuff will be showcased to a goodly sized audience.

New Forums!
Yes folks, good news. The grotty ezboard forums have been replaced with a new phpBBS-based system that won't assault you with a myriad of pop-ups and other flotsam.

A big thanks to Managed Internet Solutions for offering to provide this service.

You can access the new forums over at aardvarkforums.co.nz

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