Wal-Mart Tries To Patent The Smiley

Many prognosticators have foreseen a great war--a battle for world domination. These soothsayers have named Wal-Mart, Google, and Starbucks as the most powerful of the behemoths that will be involved. And in a move that is not likely to ensure victory, or even confer an advantage, Wal-Mart is staking out a powerful claim by attempting to patent the humble smiley.

Web Social Networks’ Popularity Still Rising

Social networking sites are bigger than ever, according to new data from Nielsen//NetRatings. The ten largest sites, taken together, grew 47 percent in the past year, and they now reach 45 percent of active Internet users.