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  Comcast: We're slowing down some internet users
Here’s a heads up for Comcast’s 14.4 million internet users: The company is going to slow down its online speeds for heavy users during peak web times. The company says top online speeds will be curtailed for 10 to 20 minutes for heavy users in order to keep service consistent for other users under a move called “fair share,” which means service will be similar to really good DSL during the slow times. The announcement comes on the heels of a Federal Communications Commission edict that Comcast figure out how to better manage its online traffic jams. Yesterday the FCC gave Comcast 30 days to come up with a plan after authorities discovered earlier this year that Comcast was blocking peer-to-peer programs used to share videos and other files. Comcast has until the end of the year to change its practices, according to an FCC order posted on its web site.

  Crow offering album download for voting registration
Sheryl Crow is getting out the vote one song at a time. The Grammy Award-winner is kicking off the Rock the Vote’s voter registration drive by giving away downloads of her political song “Gasoline” and digital copies of her new album “Detours.” The first 50,000 people who get at least three friends to register to vote will receive an album, though anyone who logs onto the Rock the Vote web site can download a free copy of her song. The singer told The Associated Press she hopes people will emotionally engage in issues such as the war in Iraq and the environment, which her album addresses. Crow is a founding member of the 18-year-old Rock the Vote, which aims to register 2 million young people by the November election.

  High wi-fi: American adds internet to domestic flights
People who use air time to unplug from the office and their email may want to avoid flying on American Airlines, at least non-stop and coast to coast. The airline began providing passengers with online services on some of its longer flights yesterday. But it will cost you to check your email -- $12.95 for a flight between New York and L.A. or Miami to San Francisco. The move is meant to provide additional revenue for an industry that has been cutting out complimentary sodas, coffee, pillows and blankets for passengers in an effort to trim costs in the face of high fuel costs. American isn't the only airline to provide wi-fi in the sky. Jet Blue already offers free but limited wi-fi service on one of its aircrafts, and US Airways, Virgin America and Delta Air Lines are in the process of testing in-flight internet access.

  Hot or not? Voters say Phelps and Liukin are hotties.
Even if you haven’t been following the 2008 Beijing Olympics, you know that swimmer Michael Phelps and gymnast Nastia Liukin are hot. But they maybe hotter than you think. According to more than 122,000 voters on the social entertainment site hotornot.com, which rates people’s sex appeal, both American athletes tied with a score of 9.8, making them the hottest U.S. athletes in the Games. By country, however, Spain has the hottest athletes, coming in with an average score of 9.25, followed by Serbia with an 8.9 and Canada with a 7.7. U.S. and Russian athletes rounded out the top five with 7.6 and 7.4 averages, respectively. Voting began on July 22 and the poll rates more than 60 athletes competing in the Games on a 1-10 “hot or not” scale. The hottest non-American athletes are Nansy Damianova, Jelena Jankovic and Almudena Cid with a score of 9.8. The athletes receiving the lowest hot score? Chinese tennis players Chun Mei Ji and Sheng-Nan Sun with a 5.2.




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