ISPs get angry, Oracle still hungry

Last week apple announced its much-hyped video iPod at its “One More Thing” show in San Jose. Speculation had been percolating for months, proving that Steve Jobs had once again succeeded in capturing everyone’s attention. But he did it with the help of many parties — including the rumor blogs Apple has sued. Personally, I think Jobs should start worrying more about the day people stop talking about his company. Ending Apple’s corporate bullying tactics would be a good place to begin.

I Know You Are, But What Am I? Backbone provider Level 3 cut off its “peering” arrangement with Cogent Communications last week, leaving some customers unable to communicate across the networks. Rumor has it that the rift occurred when Level 3 CEO James Crowe called Cogent CEO Dave Schaeffer “a doo-doo head,” and Schaeffer responded by calling him “a total loser” while making the L sign with his thumb and forefinger. It also had something to do with a dispute about the size of their respective networks and who should be peering with whom. At press time, both CEOs had declared a temporary truce while they were busy having their nappies changed.

Just One More … It’s Wafer Thin: In a move that’s not unlike coating yourself with A1 Sauce before diving into the shark tank, Salesforce.com has added former PeopleSoft CEO Craig Conway to its board. The CRM-on-demand vendor is apparently banking on the fact that Oracle is so full after digesting 11 companies this year alone, it can’t swallow another bite. I’m not so sure. Larry E. has an insatiable appetite for companies run by his former executives. With two Oracle alums — Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and Conway — this morsel could taste twice as sweet.

Loch and Load: Readers who complained about my casual commingling of “Mac” and “Mc” have gotten their kilts in a twist regarding my use of “Scotch-Irish.” As Mel C. explains, natives of the bonny isle can be called Scots or Scottish. Scotch is a form of whisky (but not whiskey with an “e” — that’s an American libation). I tell you, laddie, it’s enough to drive a man to drink.

Got hot tips or angry Scotsmen? Send them to cringe@infoworld.com and you may snag a bag filled with Apple’s product road maps (just kidding, Steve).