If you’ve been paying attention around the Interwebs the past few days, you may have seen a bunch of stuff about ThePirateBay.org, a Sweden-based Website, going on trial in Sweden. But unless you’re really into copyright laws or downloading BitTorrent files, the whole thing might be a bit confusing. But the outcome of this case will effect copyright cases from here on out.

Basically, a bunch of companies, including Warner Bros., MGM, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox Films, Sony BMG, Universal and EMI are suing The Pirate Bay for various copyright infringements. But since The Pirate Bay is a BitTorrent search engine and does not actual house any of the incriminating files on any of their servers, the case is not cut and dry. Plus, after only one day in trial, half of the charges have already been dropped.

Check out a quick break-down of the whole trial at The Daily Swarm, here!

I really hate television. The advertising, the soap opera endings to every popular show, local commercials that are all of a sudDEN LOUD AS F**KING BALLS. I cannot stand it. So, short of major sporting events that I give a crap about, I don’t really turn on my T.V set. Not sure why but the T.V. feels like a naggy woman in the room, demanding that I buy her things.

That said, television is going through a bit of a renaissance, coming out of the dark ages of the 90’s fictional fluff and finding more real, interesting stories in characters. (Battlestar Galactica, anyone?) Still, I cannot be bothered to turn my set on, because even the good shows share time and ad space with a complete bevy of reality TV garbage.

So I like the programming but cannot stand the delivery. What am I to do? Like most problems, this one can be solved by the interweb’s dump truck tubes. TV is available everywhere online. Most of it perfectly legally! Some of it in legal gray areas! Lets take a look.

Check out the Ultimate Guide to Free TV Online after the jump! (more…)

Twist of the year, including last year: The FCC has actually ruled in favor of personal rights over giant corporations.

Comcast, a cable television and Internet provider (and bane of many a customer with no other choice), was trying to stop the usage of peer-to-peer sharing (BitTorrent and other services) by using a tricky combination of hardware and software to stifle that type of Internet traffic. This is speculation but I’ve always believed this was because they were receiving pressure from the RIAA, but whatever. Either way, this practice could render your upload and download speeds completely impotent if you chose to use certain types of data transmittance, regardless of whether or not you were participating in ‘illegal’ activity.

In a ridiculously badass and unexpected decision, the FCC totally fucking facepalmed Comcast by ruling the behavior illegal. (more…)

In a fit of fear inspired by terrorism and Internet crime, former privacy-is-sacred country Sweden has decided to change their laws regarding digital privacy. This week, a law will be voted on that would give Swedish government and police forces the ability to fully monitor phone, email, and Internet traffic going into and out of the country.

Additionally, because Sweden is used to routing data to its European neighbors, it would give those Agencies access to the data headed to nearby countries. That means you. (more…)

Best Site to: Prank your friends

IP-Relay – A website designed for deaf people to make phone calls over the internet has given the lucky kids who know about it hours of laughs as you crank call friends and make the unassuming operator translate dirty/degrading things.

Runners Up: (WARNING: NSFW) Meatspin / Lemon Party / track-your-partner.com

Best Site to: Travel Europe cheaply

Easy Jet – Abroad in Europe with a weekend to kill? Why not take a weekend trip and fly to another country for dirt-ass cheap? Easy Jet is low-cost airline that flies to every major hub in Europe, has a perfect safety record, reliable service and is even publicly traded! It is a true travel gem. Example fare: London to Rome 35EU.

Runners Up: Hostel World / Zoom Airlines / eurail

Best Site to: Book a concert at your school

Clear Channel College Entertainment – Getting the Foo Fighters, Gym Class Heroes or any other major act to play your school is much easier than you think! Check out the site and scroll through artist availability and pricing. Then contact your campus SAB and get the ball rolling.

Best Site to: See some sex for free without spam

Newsfilter – A site that scours the internet for free pron and compiles it into a nice list that is updated dozens of times a day. Features video and picture galleries and also has some of the most entertaining subject titles on the internet like this classic: “The Girls ‘Down Under’ Go Down on a Penile Colony.” All this and more without spamming the shit out of you. (more…)