Remember the first time you experienced the Internet on the Netscape browser? You’re probably not going to admit it for fear it ages you. Nevertheless, a nod is in order as the curtain closes on this pioneering Web browser. After your moment of silence, check out what we’ve got in store for you.

• Strolling through Avatar Town: If you haven’t already visited Avatar Town, now’s the time to make a trip. From the latest bling bling to your very own exotic pet, outfit your digital persona by checking out all the new shops and accessories to look your best in the virtual world. Don’t forget to make an appointment for a new hair cut at the Ocean Breeze salon. Just hover over the items you want and choose “Add to Favorites” and it’s an instant makeover. Read more here.
• Spreading good vibes: If you’ve ever wanted to track and see how one kind act leads to another, you were destined for the Yahoo! Vibes application on Facebook. Both big and small acts count. Have a friend who’s having a bad day? Or you just want to wish your sister good luck on her exam? Send some good vibes and watch in real-time as people around the world are sharing their kindness to others. And make sure to read up on what else the team’s vibing up here.
• Your votes count: Can’t start your day without My Yahoo! or you’re a social bookmarking addict? Well, now’s your chance to tell the world how much you love and count on our products by voting for your fave Yahoo! products that have made the cut as finalists (including Yahoo.com, My Yahoo!, Yahoo! Mail, Zimbra, Flickr, deli.cio.us, Yahoo! Groups) for the 2008 Webware 100 Awards. The community decides who wins in each category and we’re counting on you to help us take the winner spot! Just hold tight until Feb. 25 when the voting begins!
• Tips and tricks: My Yahoo! has gotten a new “Tips” page to help you quickly and easily make you’re start page just right. Want to change the theme or color of your page? Need to add or drag & drop modules? Take a look through all the tips and tricks to help organize your page just the way you like it.

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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Beijing next week to discuss a wide range of political issues with senior Chinese officials. With deep appreciation for the power of diplomacy and government-to-government engagement on human rights issues, we believe we have a window of opportunity for freedom. Yesterday, Jerry sent a letter to Secretary Rice urging the State Department’s continued assistance in securing the release of Shi Tao, Wang Xiaoning, and other political dissidents imprisoned for expressing their views online.

I’ve sat with Jerry at the State Department, meeting with senior government officials, as he’s pressed for continued government assistance in advocating for the release of dissidents. Over the past two years, legal and policy executives at Yahoo! have met with NGO’s to discuss strategies for securing the release of political dissidents. We’ve also met with senior Chinese officials and asked directly for the release of Mr. Shi and Mr. Wang. We understand our responsibilities, and we take them with the utmost seriousness. We also recognize the practical limits of corporate diplomacy, especially next to the powerful advocacy tools available to governments. We believe governments have the most leverage to influence the decision-making of other governments.

The stakes – personal freedom – are high for those unfairly imprisoned and for their families. This is one reason we’ve established a Human Rights Fund to provide humanitarian and legal support for these dissidents, as well as for their families. The Fund will be administered by noted dissident Harry Wu – who spent nineteen years in a Chinese labor camp – through his Laogai Research Foundation. The Fund will also support the Foundation’s educational efforts on human rights. We also hope to stimulate new research to advance the cause of free expression and privacy globally, and we’ve established international fellowships at Stanford and Georgetown Universities to promote the pursuits of journalists from press-restrictive countries and scholars exploring the link between global values, the Internet, and communication technologies.

We’ve also engaged with industry peers, human rights groups, socially responsible investors, and academics, working to develop a broad-based response to the challenges of restrictions on free expression and privacy globally. At Yahoo!, we’re fully committed. The positive partnership — facilitated by Business for Social Responsibility and the Center for Democracy & Technology — makes us optimistic about the development of guiding principles and operational standards, for companies in our sector and eventually beyond, that will allow us to continue making profits with principle. The windows of opportunity are before us for collective action to advance industry standards and for government action to help win the freedom of dissidents imprisoned simply for expressing their views online. Jerry and all of us at Yahoo! are hopeful Secretary Rice’s leadership, diplomacy, and advocacy next week in Beijing will help secure the release of Shi Tao, Wang Xiaoning, and others in China.

Michael Samway
VP & Deputy General Counsel