Worming Your Way Into MSN IM

Everyone's aflutter with the launch of Google's IM service but lest we forget, there are other players in this peculiar little game. Microsoft has had its own instant messaging service for quite some time. Something new crawled into the Microsoft instant messenger too, something vile and unclean and it uses your own language against you.

A Round of Applause for AOL

Now here's an interesting trick. How do you simultaneously illustrate exactly which business practices not to do and yet remain the world's largest Internet provider and 4th most popular search portal? Maybe it's a combination of being fathered by Time Warner, aggressive direct CD-to-drink-coaster marketing, seduction of the pre-teen masses, AND according to the latest news, not letting anybody cancel their overpriced Internet service.