Morning Media Summary

Tech:

Boston College Says Using WiFi is a Sign of Infringement:
“Boston College has a funny idea of what constitutes copyright infringement. It has a list of what might be called ‘you might be a copyright infringer if…’ with the sort of things you might expect, such as using file sharing programs or sending mp3s to friends. But some have noticed something odd. Included on the list is using a wireless router in your dorm. Yes, just using a wireless router. Not using it for anything. But just using such a router is considered a sign of infringement. Nice to see our top colleges and universities teaching students completely made up things.”

Creepy app warns of an end to privacy:
“Creepy is a software package for Linux or Windows – with a Mac OS X port in the works – that aims to gather public information on a targeted individual via social networking services in order to pinpoint their location. It’s remarkably efficient at its job, even in its current early form, and certainly lives up to its name when you see it in use for the first time.”

Google Will Face Privacy Audits For The Next 20 Years (GOOG):
“Google has reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over Buzz, a social blogging service that the company introduced through Gmail last year.”

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

Calif. Drought Officially ends after snowy winter:
“A drought that loomed over some of California’s most fertile farmland officially ended Wednesday after a winter of relentless mountain storms that piled snow up to three stories high and could keep some ski resorts open until the Fourth of July.”

Sen. Jim Inhofe: Obama can’t veto legislation blocking EPA regulations:
“As of Wednesday night, a vote may finally be in sight for an amendment that would revoke the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. After days of back and forth over scheduling, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid signaled late Wednesday that a vote is tentatively set for Thursday afternoon.”

Insurance / Gambling:

Legality Of Sweepstakes Cafes Questioned:
“There’s a new way to play the sweepstakes in Massachusetts, in Internet cafes across the state. Lawmakers say it’s gambling, which is not allowed in the state. Owners say it’s perfectly legal.”

Health / Safety:

Radiation Traces Found in U.S. Milk:
“The U.S. government said Wednesday that traces of radiation have been found in milk in Washington state, but said the amounts are far too low to trigger any public-health concern.”

Economics:

Wal-Mart CEO Bill Simon expect inflation:
“U.S. consumers face “serious” inflation in the months ahead for clothing, food and other products, the head of Wal-Mart’s U.S. operations warned Wednesday.”

Legal:

Microsoft files complaint against Google:
“Microsoft asked European regulators Thursday to go after Google on antitrust grounds, accusing the search giant of trying to “entrench its dominance” on the Web.”

The best and worst of FOIAgate:
“After months of investigating, the House Oversight Committee has released its report on allegations of FOIA abuse in the Department of Homeland Security. At 150 pages (PDF), “A New Era of Openness? How and Why Political Staff at DHS Interfered with the FOIA Process” is chock-full of testimony and evidence to make your jaw drop. In order to help our readers get to the juiciest parts, The Daily Caller has compiled a list of the most fascinating facts from the committee’s report, including evidence of incompetence, theft, and intentional deceit.”

Labor:

WSEU circulating boycott letters:
“Members of Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24, have begun circulating letters to businesses in southeast Wisconsin, asking them to support workers’ rights by putting up a sign in their windows.”

Union Accuses a Leader of Financial Misconduct:
“The Service Employees International Union has filed internal charges against Bruce S. Raynor, one of New York’s most prominent union leaders and the head of that union’s apparel workers’ affiliate, accusing him of financial misconduct.”

Public Unions: Is California Next?:
“Wisconsin’s public union fight is the battle of the century in American politics. But while the governors of Wisconsin and Ohio have led the pushback, it’s possible that the public-pension battle could shift in the future to California—with or without the participation of its governor, the endlessly recyclable Jerry Brown. Even in this bluest of states, the ground is shaking beneath the unions.”

Transportation/ Land Use:

Montana landowner eminent domain bill fails:
“The Montana House is killing a measure giving more power to landowners hit with eminent domain actions after its sponsor said it was no longer workable.”

State wants high-speed rail money Florida rejected:
“Florida’s reluctance to invest in fast trains could extend California’s first stretch of high-speed rail tracks from Merced to Bakersfield, and west toward the Bay Area.”