During the last week, it seems that news about Microsoft shows them busy doing the kind of things that we all love them for:

• Janus, MS's new DRM software, was released on Monday. No surprise that the DRM controls will enable expiration of access to content. Big industry players such as Dell, Disney, and AOL are showing interest. Ready for DVD's and CD's which have a very limited use life? Story at CNN and Ars Technica.
• IP News Blog links to this piece from eweek which suggests that Longhorn delays are aimed at making the next version of Windows as Linux/open source unfriendly as possible (although I suspect that delays are more likely attributed to security problems over Paladium). More disturbing to me is the claim that MS is filing ten patents a day during this time in order to protect Longhorn. Ironic, isn't it, since as Lessig points out in Free Culture
  

  As Microsoft chairman Bill Gates wrote in 1991, in a memo criticizing software patents, “established companies have an interest in excluding future competitors.” And relative to a startup, established companies also have the means.

• Finally, if Microsoft's business practices aren't enough, here's a reason to stop using MSN and Hotmail. MS plans to sell membership on a whitelist for "marketers" whose messages/spam will not be blocked from their members' email accounts. Wonder if they'll turn around and offer paid for spam free services without the whitelist spam to their email members? Via Slashdot.
• UPDATE: Almost forgot this one. Microsoft Watch reports on recommended hardware requirements for Longhorn which will outdate all current computers:
  

  Microsoft is expected to recommend that the "average" Longhorn PC feature a dual-core CPU running at 4 to 6GHz; a minimum of 2 gigs of RAM; up to a terabyte of storage; a 1 Gbit, built-in, Ethernet-wired port and an 802.11g wireless link; and a graphics processor that runs three times faster than those on the market today.

  Could this be the reason for Longhorn delays? Are they waiting for the hardware to catch up with the needs of a bloated operating system? Personally, I think this will just push more people to Linux.

As far as these email scams go, I think that whoever thought up this one should have set up a PayPal account; they deserve a dollar for the creativity and entertainment value:

Subject: Nigerian Astronaut Wants To Come Home
Dr. Bakare Tunde
Astronautics Project Manager
National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)
Plot 555
Misau Street
PMB 437
Garki, Abuja, FCT NIGERIA

Dear Mr. Sir,

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE-STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

I am Dr. Bakare Tunde, the cousin of Nigerian Astronaut, Air Force Major Abacha Tunde. He was the first African in space when he made a secret flight to the Salyut 6 space station in 1979. He was on a later Soviet spaceflight, Soyuz T-16Z to the secret Soviet military space station Salyut 8T in 1989. He was stranded there in 1990 when the Soviet Union was dissolved. His other Soviet crew members returned to earth on the Soyuz T-16Z, but his place was taken up by return cargo. There have been occasional Progrez supply flights to keep him going since that time. He is in good humor, but wants to come home.

Read the rest at The Register. Link via Slashdot.