Flicker Fusion

In early 2008, Microsoft Corp.’s product planners for the Internet Explorer 8.0 browser intended to give users a simple, effective way to avoid being tracked online. They wanted to design the software to automatically thwart common tracking tools, unless a user deliberately switched to settings affording less privacy.

That triggered heated debate inside Microsoft. As the leading maker of Web browsers, the gateway software to the Internet, Microsoft must balance conflicting interests: helping people surf the Web with its browser to keep their mouse clicks private, and helping advertisers who want to see those clicks.

In the end, the product planners lost a key part of the debate. The winners: executives who argued that giving automatic privacy to consumers would make it tougher for Microsoft to profit from selling online ads. Microsoft built its browser so that users must deliberately turn on privacy settings every time they start up the software.

In early 2008, Microsoft Corp.’s product planners for the Internet Explorer 8.0 browser intended to give users a simple, effective way to avoid being tracked online. They wanted to design the software to automatically thwart common tracking tools, unless a user deliberately switched to settings affording less privacy.

That triggered heated debate inside Microsoft. As the leading maker of Web browsers, the gateway software to the Internet, Microsoft must balance conflicting interests: helping people surf the Web with its browser to keep their mouse clicks private, and helping advertisers who want to see those clicks.

In the end, the product planners lost a key part of the debate. The winners: executives who argued that giving automatic privacy to consumers would make it tougher for Microsoft to profit from selling online ads. Microsoft built its browser so that users must deliberately turn on privacy settings every time they start up the software.

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The Wall Street Journal looks at browser privacy. Less surprising is that Google Chrome doesn’t block third party cookies by default, more surprising is that neither does Firefox. Safari is the only browser that blocks third party cookies out of the box.

The Journal put together a handy interactive that walks through how to manage cookies in every major browser.

At CBS, Mr. Schorr won three Emmy Awards for his coverage of the Watergate scandal and took pride in his often blunt reporting on the administration. In one instance he hurriedly began broadcasting after acquiring a copy of Nixon’s notorious “enemies list” only to discover in reading the names aloud that his was No. 17.

At CBS, Mr. Schorr won three Emmy Awards for his coverage of the Watergate scandal and took pride in his often blunt reporting on the administration. In one instance he hurriedly began broadcasting after acquiring a copy of Nixon’s notorious “enemies list” only to discover in reading the names aloud that his was No. 17.

—I somehow missed the news that Daniel Schorr died last week. I loved his unapologetic style and insight and I’ll miss his unique take on the news.

Rumors circulating the internet of a fan stabbing another attendee in the eye over coveted seats, and of a victim clad in a “Harry Potter T-shirt soaked in blood,” are inaccurate, according to authorities.

Rumors circulating the internet of a fan stabbing another attendee in the eye over coveted seats, and of a victim clad in a “Harry Potter T-shirt soaked in blood,” are inaccurate, according to authorities.

—Blood-soaked Harry Potter t-shirts notwithstanding, a dude is under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon after striking his buddy in the face with a pen at Comic-Con this year.