Microsoft Admits Stealing Code From Small Chinese Software Company

So much for complaining about piracy, when you're the ones doing the stealing...

"Microsoft has admitted that its new Chinese microblogging service used webcode pilfered from a similar service popular elsewhere in Asia.

On Monday, as reported by The Reg, Asian microblogging site Plurk accused Microsoft China of pilfering its code for a new social-networking feature known as Juku on the Chinese MSN site.

Monday night, Microsoft announced that it had removed the offending feature as it investigated the charges, and now, Microsoft has admitted that the code was indeed lifted from Plurk."

Bank Of America's Deceptive Ad: $12 Billion Loaned in 2009

After President Obama chastised the big banks about refusing to loan money to individuals and businesses, Bank of America has launched new ads trying to promote how positive they are for the country and how they are helping to jump start our economy. The latest television commercials brag about BoA making $12 billion in small business loans. The ads say something like:

"We like to think that small businesses fuel our economy. $12 billion is a lot of fuel."

I agree, $12 billion is a lot of fuel. But it made me wonder, "how much did BoA loan to small businesses in 2008?" I've read over and over that banks have been refusing to loan money to businesses and individuals the entire year, so how does 2009 compare to 2008?

A CNN Money article from March, 2009, complaining that banks have stopped lending money, included this information:

"After making $136.1 billion in SBA loans in the 2008 fiscal year, Bank of America originated just $3.3 million last quarter..."

So Bank of America is bragging about helping to jump start our economy by loaning out $12 billion in 2009, which is actually a drop of $124 billion from the previous year.

Today, Bank of America answered the President's call and announced they would make another $5 billion available in loans. That's still $119 billion less than last year.