The good news is that the first battle in the legal fight against the NSA's wiretapping program has been won by everyone who doesn't work for the NSA. The bad news is that internet-enabled vigilante mobs could be the next big fad here in the States. Eh, we're too busy applying a new Dasani-branded profile treatment to our MySpace profile and checking out some of the videos.

Damnit, we were totally going to lead off with a Trekkie joke about this post on the official Google Blog, but Valleywag beat us to it. We think it's even more cliche that they seem to lead off every Google VideoBlog post with leggy models. Yahoo's del.icio.us may be feeling the pinch from Digg, which boasts a coterie of developer fanboys and, therefore, free extensions. Oh, and an Apple hagiography, can't forget that.

The big gossip this week is being generated by LinuxWorld, and apparently the party to be at is TechCrunch's Michael Arrington's. Tickets are going for $300+, and the venture capitalists will be so thick you'll probably have to go all Clubby the Seal to get through to the snacks. And don't think New York is any better -- there's VCs at Manhattan's Rucker Park!

In other news, it looks like the free-to-play online game model could be working its way west, and we couldn't be happier. Swedens Pirate Party has launched a commercial darknet for those who prefer to stay anonymous. Wired's Tony Long done run off at the mouth about photography, according to Thomas Hawk. Fact check your stoned friend with the SkyScout, a handy digital starguide. And if you're into Second Life, check out the Second Life Community Convention this Sunday at Fort Mason.

Photo of (l-r) Craig Newmark, Irina Slutsky, Rob Malda and Eddie Codel at LinuxWorld by Scott Beale.