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From CNN: While many web sites are hosted on microcomputers, mainframe computers continue to be a popular choice for hosting large sites and Web services.

IBM has continued to sell mainframe computers to clients that use legacy applications written for older computers.

Mainframe computers are also appropriate for running virtual servers. A single mainframe computer can run multiple virtual servers, each of which emulates a smaller computer’s operations. A virtual server can be shut down and restarted quickly, and can be described in an image file that is loaded by the mainframe’s virtualization software. In some cases, companies have found that a mainframe can replace several hardware servers while improving system availability.

From USA Today and news.com: According to a Federal study, approximately 1% of files listed on Google and Microsoft search engines are pornographic.The study was commission by Federal lawyers to support the 1998 Child Online Protection Act. COPA required web sites to collect a credit card number before allowing a user to view adult materials. The law was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1998. A 2000 law that required libraries and schools to install and use Web filters was upheld by the Court in 2003. An earlier 1996 law that banned online pornography was overturned by the court in 1997, in part because the law employed a broad definition of porn.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) supports filters, claiming that highly restrictive filters can block a majority of adult web sites. However, many porn sites are operated outside the United States, and porn sites tend to use popular non-pornographic keywords in attempts to direct new users to the sites.

From CNN: European universities are facing increased competitive pressure to help students finish their degree programs quickly and find meaningful employment after graduation. In Germany, some universities are charging tuition. French universities are using selective admission policies. Greece may allow private universities into the country.

Will the University of Phoenix expand its European presence? Will European employers allow more employees to earn degrees online or in corporate classrooms?

From the New York Times and Yahoo: Yahoo has announced a partnership to share news and advertising content with 176 US newspapers. Several newspaper publishers are included, including Belo, Cox, Hearst, MediaNews and Scripps. The largest newspapers in the deal are the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Dallas Morning News, Denver Post, San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Daily News. The deal covers 38 states and a combined daily circulation of 12 million readers.Google had announced an advertisement placement deal with 50 US newspapers earlier this month. Local advertising is a fragmented market, with national and regional advertisers exerting more pressure on small newspapers for simplified media purchasing and consolidated reporting.

The new Yahoo agreement started with an existing deal among HotJobs, Medianews and Belo. HotJobs is owned by Yahoo, and holds a 9% market share among online job sites. CareerBuilder and Monster.com are virtually tied for first place with 32 and 31 percent shares respectively.

The newspapers will use Yahoo’s technology and content to place ads, maps, calendars, local listings, and search features on their own web sites. News stories from the local newspapers will be posted on Yahoo, and local newspapers will have access to Yahoo’s news content.

“The bottom line is that these newspaper companies have decided to answer the ‘friend or foe’ question that all traditional media companies face regarding online players,” wrote UBS analyst Brian Schachter. “They have decided it is better to be friends with Yahoo.”

This is an interesting business model that has already failed in earlier attempts. Yahoo may be able to learn from other companies’ mistakes.

An earlier attempt by newspapers to form an Internet alliances failed after three years. The New Century Alliance was formed by the New York Times, Times Mirror, Gannet and Knight-Ridder in 1995 as an early entrant in online news content and advertising. The owners dissolved New Century in 1998, before Yahoo, Google and other sites found their online news audiences.

Microsoft also attempted to develop its own local content sites in the 1990s. Sidewalk bled cash as Microsoft struggled with establishing relationships and branding in major US cities.