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Google Offers Staffers Free Bikes (Guardian)
Google is improving its green credentials by offering all of its employees a free bike to ride to work. The bikes, manufactured by Raleigh Europe, will be offered to around 2,000 permanent employees of the search engine giant in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. All of the bikes — plus free helmets — will be branded with the Google name.

Longtime Inky TV Writer Gail Shister Stripped of Her Beat (Philly Inky)
On Tuesday, Shister was told she would no longer be writing her widely read column, and would instead be asked to do more pop-culture television features, she confirmed yesterday. "We're all part of a new world here, and I never thought I'd be immune, but I'm not ready to uncork the champagne yet," Shister said of her disappointment.

Congress Must Make Clear Copyright Laws To Protect Consumers (WSJ)
Walter S. Mossberg: Viacom wants to get paid more than Google wants to pay it for all of those fuzzy, two-minute clips from programs like "The Daily Show" that users post to YouTube. The companies tried to negotiate a deal, but the talks failed, so Viacom is suing for $1 billion. I am not a lawyer, and I have no idea how this lawsuit will wind up. I suspect it is mainly a bargaining tactic by Viacom. But I know one thing: This fight isn't primarily about consumers and their rights, and its outcome won't necessarily make things better for Internet users.

Italy Swapped 5 Jailed Taliban for Journo Hostage (NYT)
Daniele Mastrogiacomo, a reporter for the Italian daily La Repubblica who was held hostage for 15 days by the Taliban in lawless southern Afghanistan, was ransomed for five Taliban prisoners, the Italian government and Afghan officials confirmed Wednesday. It appears to be the first time prisoners have been openly exchanged for a hostage in the wars that the United States and its allies are fighting there and in Iraq, and the move drew immediate criticism from Washington and London, and from other European capitals. DISCUSS THIS STORY: Here.

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