in the news today

Bad news for people who like illegal free music has come this morning, as the popular torrent-sharing network OiNK has been shut down by British and Dutch police, according to a BBC report. The home of a 24-year-old IT worker from Middlesbrough, England, was raided, as was his place of employment ("a large multi-national company") and his father's home. OiNK's servers, located in Amsterdam, were also seized. The IT worker, allegedly the mastermind of the operation, "is being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and infringement of copyright law," the BBC says.

OiNK was an invitation-only service in which membership was maintained by the consistent sharing of new music torrents. The more tunes you uploaded, the better your standing. Monetary donations were also encouraged.
According to The Northern Echo, OiNK boasted up to 180,000 members. The BBC reports that the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) claims that OiNK was responsible for leaking "60 major pre-release albums this year alone."

also in Europe: tv links has been busted as well
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/10/20/tv_links_shut_down_for_linking_.html

PS. MAGIC MOUNTAIN MAY IN FACT BE ON FIRE AS WE SPEAK

SANTA CLARITA - Authorities say a wildfire that broke out this afternoon near the Magic Mountain theme park in the Santa Clarita Valley has burned 1,000 acres.

Los Angeles County fire Inspector Rick Dominguez says the so-called Magic Fire was reported shortly after 2:15 this afternoon near The Old Road and Magic Mountain Parkway.

Dominguez says the fire, pushed by 30-mile-per-hour winds, is burning west toward Ventura County.

Dominguez says evacuations were ordered earlier on Mallory Drive and Waycott Way.

He says no homes have been damaged and no injuries are reported.