VIC:French ambassador eulogies Wake

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2011
VIC:French ambassador eulogies Wake

The French ambassador to Australia has eulogised Australia's most decorated World War
II servicewoman NANCY WAKE, as a hero who stood tall in the ugliest circumstances.

WAKE, who passed away in a London hospital early this morning, aged 98, saved thousands
of Allied lives by guiding them through escape routes and sabotaging German installations.

Ambassador MICHEL FILHOL says WAKE's contribution to the French resistance can't be overstated.

AAP RTV jcr/pmu/nap

KEYWORD: WAKE AMBASSADOR (MELBOURNE)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Rogerson jailed for lying to PIC=2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2005
NSW: Rogerson jailed for lying to PIC=2

The 64-year-old pleaded guilty in Downing Centre District Court to one count of giving
false evidence to the PIC in May, 1999.

Judge Peter Berman today sentenced Rogerson to two and a half years in jail, saying
he had deliberately lied to a commission whose objective was to uncover and weed out corruption.

"This was not some spur of the moment decision which he immediately regretted," Judge
Berman said.

Rogerson faced a maximum five years' jail for the offence but Judge Berman took into
account his guilty plea, age, evidence of good character, and the mental hardship he would
suffer in custody.

Judge Berman ordered Rogerson to serve at least one year of the sentence.

He will be eligible for parole on February 17, 2006.

Last October, Judge Berman sentenced Rogerson's wife, Anne Melocco, to two years' periodic
detention for the same offence.

They were charged after lying to a PIC hearing into alleged corruption at Liverpool
City Council in Sydney's south west.

AAP ka/kp/lb/sd

KEYWORD: ROGERSON SENTENCE 2 SYDNEY

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:NSW and Vic top childhood education

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2011
FED:NSW and Vic top childhood education

A new report shows New South Wales and Victoria are ahead of the class when it comes
to implementing national early childhood education reforms.

But federal Child Care Minister KATE ELLIS has praised each state and territory on
the steps they've taken .. launching the snapshot of the nation's progress.

Early Childhood Australia's report shows all states have introduced aspects of the
National Quality Framework ahead of the January 2012 deadline .. such as increased staffing
levels for early education services.

The federal government is spending 18.2 billion dollars over four years to further
reform the early childhood education sector and ensure more staff are on hand to care
for young children.

AAP RTV eb/tr/tm

KEYWORD: CHILDCARE ELLIS (SYDNEY)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Rural area given better Medicare access

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2010
FED:Rural area given better Medicare access

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - More remote and rural towns across Australia will now be able
to access enhanced Medicare services, the federal government says.

Minster for Human Services and Social Inclusion Tanya Plibersek said 60 new locations
- including Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory and Bourke in NSW - now had access
to Medicare services including teleclaiming and self-service computers.

Ms Plibersek said that it was part of the government's plan to ensure all Australians
could access Medicare and Centrelink services no matter where they lived.

In remote areas, Medicare sites have been located in Centreline offices.

The new sites would enable customers to use Medicare teleclaiming services to claim
rebates, register or update bank account details, order a new or duplicate Medicare card,
request a copy of the Medicare benefit tax statement and update personal details, the
minister said in a statement on Wednesday night.

The closest Medicare office to some of these towns can be hundreds of kilometres away.

AAP dmg/cdh

KEYWORD: MEDICARE

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Afghanistan back on Gillard's agenda

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2010
FED:Afghanistan back on Gillard's agenda

The issue of Afghanistan is back on the agenda for Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD with
the death of another Australian soldier.

Defence says Perth-based SAS TROOPER JASON BROWN was killed overnight in northern Kandahar
after he was shot several times by Taliban fighters.

Ms GILLARD held an immediate press conference .. saying it is devastating to receive
the news of the death of another Australian soldier .. the 18th to die in the mission.

Ms GILLARD says it is always difficult to hear that news .. and Australia's mission
in Afghanistan is a vital but dangerous one .. which has bi-partisan support and one she
is determined to continue.

AAP RTV ah/wz

KEYWORD: POLL10 GILLARD (BALLINA)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

RBA raises cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 pct

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2010
RBA raises cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 pct

CANBERRA, April 6 AAP - The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has raised the cash rate
by 25 basis points to 4.25 per cent following its monthly board meeting on Tuesday.

AAP cb/sb/de

KEYWORD: RATES UPDATE

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Bus drivers return to work after snap strike

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2009
NSW: Bus drivers return to work after snap strike

SYDNEY, Aug 24 AAP - Bus drivers in western Sydney have returned to work six hours
after a snap strike over timetable changes left commuters and school children stranded.

About 130 Busways drivers at the private company's Blacktown depot called the strike
on Monday morning, forcing management to cancel all services to the Blacktown, Mount Druitt
and Rouse Hills areas.

The frustrated drivers said they walked off the job after Busways management failed
to address concerns about the new timetable, to be introduced in the next six weeks.

Drivers believed running times were too tight and would affect turnaround times and
connections with other routes, Transport Workers Union official Darcy Waller said.

"The drivers took the industrial action this morning after a long period of negotiations
had broken down," he said.

About six hours after the drivers walked off the job, all services resumed at 9.40am
(AEST) following discussions between management and the union, Busways said.

A spokeswoman declined to comment on the outcome of the talks.

Mr Waller said a company boss had visited the depot and assured drivers that negotiations
would continue.

An industrial relations hearing had been scheduled for midday (AEST), he said.

"We got what we wanted out of it," he told AAP.

"We want to make sure channels of communication remain open."

The company issued an apology to passengers who were inconvenienced by the service disruptions.

AAP bs/evt/cdh

KEYWORD: BUS UPDATE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: 'Disturbing letter' prompts riot police patrols at uni

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2009
NSW: 'Disturbing letter' prompts riot police patrols at uni

Riot police are patrolling a university in Sydney after the discovery of a disturbing
letter on campus.

The patrols have been launched based on the contents of the letter .. found last week
in the student administration centre at the University of Western Sydney's Parramatta
campus.

A police spokeswoman says the letter contains disturbing information which police are
taking very seriously.

She says staff and students have been warned to remain vigilant .. and report anything
unusual or suspicious to police.

AAP RTV bc/evt/goc/jmt

KEYWORD: LETTER (SYDNEY)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

News Diary events for Wednesday, Dec 10 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2008
News Diary events for Wednesday, Dec 10 2008
Good Evening News Editors and Chiefs of Staff

Here is AAP's preliminary newslist for tomorrow (not for publication).

This is a guide only and stories, local times and locations are subject to change. In
some cases times and locations may not be available. Story coverage is subject to staffing.

CANBERRA
- 0900 Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith press conference to discuss his travel to
Fiji for the second meeting of the Pacific Island Forum Foreign Minister's Ministerial
Contact Group. Parliament House. Canberra.

SYDNEY
0930 - Media briefing of the MCA redevelopment plans. Museum of Contemporary Art, Level
3 galleries, 140 George Street, The Rocks.

1000 - Appeal decision for William Kamm, convicted in a cult sex case. Appeal court 13A.

1000 - Continuation of Iktimal Hage-Ali's wrongful arrest suit. NSW District Court 13C,
John Maddison Tower.

1000 - POssible bail application from Evan Lindsay, accused of grooming a girl over the
internet. Central Local Court.

1000 - NSW Farmers Association donates 5,000 apples to the Sydney Special Children's Christmas
Party. Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush.

1030 - Former Family Court Justice Elizabeth Evatt and UK jurist Lord Bingham visit Australia.

60th anniversary declarations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Law Theatre,
Law Building, UNSW, Kensington Campus.

1200 - 2008 Human Rights Medals and Awards Ceremony. Presented by the Chaser's Julian
Morrow. The Grand Ballroom, Sheraton on the Park Hotel, Sydney.

1230 - Allan Gyngell presents "The Emerging Foreign Policy of the Rudd Government". The
Lowy Institute for International Policy, Ground floor, 31 Bligh Street, Sydney.

MELBOURNE
0830 - Launch of Earth Hour 2009
1015 - ACCC case against cardboard king Richard Pratt continues in the Federal Court.

BRISBANE:
- Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson to open Digging Deeper Conference.

- Earth Hour Brisbane launch.

- Fallout from budget review.

ADELAIDE
- No items listed.

PERTH
- 1000 Perth Magistrates Court - legal action arising from deaths occurring at the Fortescue
Metals Group and associated contractors' sites during Cyclone George, which killed two
workers and injured several others in March 2007.

FINANCE:
ECONOMICS NEWS:
SYDNEY - Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) housing finance data for October.

MELBOURNE - Westpac/Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index for December.


EQUITIES DESK:
SYDNEY - OrotonGroup Ltd annual general meeting.

SYDNEY - Rubik Financial Ltd annual general meeting.

MELBOURNE - Resource Star Ltd annual general meeting.

SPORT:
CRICKET
PERTH - News as South Africa prepares for Test series v Australia and preview tour opening
one-day match v WA on Thursday.

ADELAIDE - One-dayer: SA v Tas, Adelaide Oval.


GOLF
SYDNEY - Interviews including Adam Scott and preview Australian Open starting Thursday
with factbox, penpix of favourites.


ATHLETICS
MELBOURNE - Preview Zatopek meeting in Melbourne on Thursday.


SURFING
HAWAII - Men's Pipeline Masters and women's Billabong Pro world tour events scheduled.

AAP cdh

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS WEDNESDAY

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Govt to consult small business over unit pricing scheme

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2008
Fed: Govt to consult small business over unit pricing scheme

CANBERRA, Aug 6 AAP - The federal government will consult small operators and consumer
groups before deciding whether to impose a mandatory national unit pricing scheme on all
supermarkets.

The last thing the government wanted to do was put more compliance costs on small business,
says Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen.

The introduction of a unit pricing scheme, which would change the way supermarkets
display prices for groceries, was a key recommendation of the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission's six-month inquiry into grocery prices.

Mr Bowen has said the government will consider the best way to introduce the scheme.

"Woolworths says 'if you give us 12 to 18 months to do it, it really shouldn't drive
up our costs', Mr Bowen told the Nine Network today.

"Now the smaller retailers, of course, there would be a tight increased cost as a percentage,
so I need to work with industry and consumer groups over the next few weeks to try and
get that balance right.

"The last thing we want to do is put more compliance costs on smaller businesses."

The commission recognised the issue by recommending unit pricing apply only to significant
supermarkets, Mr Bowen said.

"The key is working out what is significant and where you draw the line.

"We do need to ensure that everybody has a level playing field and we're not giving
one supermarket an advantage over another, but we do need to ensure that smaller supermarkets
aren't disadvantaged.

The opposition has given its qualified support for the introduction of unit pricing,
but not for another government initiative - a new website which starts up today.

The site - www.GROCERYchoice.gov.au - will provide monthly comparisons of a basket
of selected groceries from supermarkets in 61 regions across the country.

Opposition finance spokesman Peter Dutton says the government should guarantee prices
will fall as a result of the service.

"If they can't provide that guarantee, then this is another political stunt by (Prime
Minister) Mr (Kevin) Rudd," Mr Dutton told ABC Radio.

"This grocery watch or grocery choice won't take into account any specials, won't take
into account multiple purchases ... it's a scheme based on prices a month old, and that's
why it won't work," he said.

AAP srj/rl/it/de

KEYWORD: GROCERY SECOND DAYLEAD

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: $1 million worth of cannabis plants found in Liverpool

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2008
NSW: $1 million worth of cannabis plants found in Liverpool

SYDNEY, Feb 12 AAP - An anonymous call to a police station has led to the seizure of
about $1 million worth of cannabis from a house in southwestern Sydney.

Police raided the house on Medley Avenue in Liverpool about 8am (AEDT) today and seized
355 hydroponic cannabis plants.

An elaborate hydroponic system was in place, police said, with most rooms in the four
bedroom home, and also the garage devoted to growing cannabis.

One man was arrested at the house and was still assisting police with their inquiries
this afternoon.

AAP wjf/was/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: PLANTS

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: National response to NSW horse flu outbreak

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2007
Fed: National response to NSW horse flu outbreak

Federal Agriculture Minister PETER McGAURAN says state and territory veterinary officials
will meet today .. to co-ordinate the response to the the outbreak of equine influenza
in 11 horses stabled at Sydney's Centennial Park.

He says Australia has never had equine influenza .. and if it escapes from Centennial
Park it will have a devastating effect.

Mr McGAURAN has told Sky News the infection is NOT harmful to humans .. but can be
spread by humans.

He says it's not yet known whether a vaccination is available.

Mr McGAURAN says all horse movements be restricted in New South Wales .. and there'll
be no racing today.

AAP RTV dr/ibw

KEYWORD: STALLIONS MCGAURAN (SYDNEY)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Father and son suffer smoke inhalation in house fire

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2007
Vic: Father and son suffer smoke inhalation in house fire

An elderly man and his middle-aged son have both been taken to hospital overnight suffering
smoke inhalation .. after fire gutted their 100-year-old house in Melbourne's inner north-west.

Fire crews were called to the house in Ascot Vale just before midnight .. to find the
double-storey brick house well alight.

The two men .. aged 79 and 50 .. were outside.

Fire authorities say the house was full of newspapers and rubbish the men had collected
over the years.

The blaze took 20 firefighters 40 minutes to control .. and has caused an estimated
350 thousand dollars worth of damage to the house.

The cause of the fire isn't yet known.

AAP RTV jrd/tm

KEYWORD: BLAZE (MELBOURNE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Rudd pledges to save Aussie manufacturing

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2006
NSW: Rudd pledges to save Aussie manufacturing

Opposition leader KEVIN RUDD has pledged to halt the shutdown of manufacturing in Australia.

He's told Mews Limited he doesn't want to get to a stage where this country doesn't
make anything any more.

Mr RUDD also says he'll work to ensure the children of working families get a good education.

He says Labor's industrial campaign will be extended beyond the workplace.

Mr RUDD has told News Limited the most critical aspect of fairness from the party is
in education opportunity.

AAP RTV pc/wz/ibw

KEYWORD: LABOR MANUFACTURING (SYDNEY)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

1300 4BC Headlines

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2006
1300 4BC Headlines





PM clarifies his promise to keep interest rates low .. has nothing to apologise for - HOWARD

Syd court told man stabbed ex-wife's lover to death in frenzied attack

Kovco inquiry told it wasn't unusual for soldiers to forget to unload their weapons
when they returned to base.

UK introducing a new terror alert system.

Research project to improve health of mothers and babies launched on Gold Coast.

SPORT: Broncos SEYMOUR will continue to play for T'ba while assault allegation's investigated.

New pay deal for AFL Players to be announced this a'noon. Johnny Wilkinson named in extended
English squad.

AAP RTV/bart

KEYWORD: 1300 4BC

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

qld: Sharks close beaches for second day

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2006
qld: Sharks close beaches for second day

Gold Coast beaches have been closed for a second successive day after scores of sharks
were spotted close to the shore.

Surf patrols closed beaches from Burleigh to Southport as the hammerhead .. grey nurse
and whaler sharks fed on schools of bait fish in the shallows.

Lifesavers say most swimmers were happy to obey the warnings .. but some surfers were
still putting themselves at risk .. going within metres of the feeding frenzy.

AAP RTV bmk/ibw

KEYWORD: SHARKS (BRISBANE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

biserial correlation

biserial correlation A measure of the association between a binary variable, X, taking values 0 and 1, and a continuous random variable, Y. If it is assumed that for each value of X the distribution of Y is normal, with different means but the same variance, then an appropriate measure is the point biserial correlation coefficient. This is estimated from a sample as r_pb(−1≤r_pb≤1), given bywhere ȳ₁ and ȳ₀ are the mean Y-values corresponding to the two values of X, is the sample variance (using the n − 1 divisor) of the combined set of n Y-values, and p is the proportion of X values equal to 1.

If it can be assumed that X is a dichotomous representation of an underlying continuous random variable, W, with W and Y having a bivariate normal distribution, then an appropriate measure is the biserial correlation coefficient. This is estimated as r_b, given bywhereand h is the value defined by P(Z≥h) = p, for a standard normal variable Z.

iNetEvents Selected by Meeting Professionals International, Orange County, Calif. Chapter, to Host Online Registration Services for 2001 Calendar of Events.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2001

iNetEvents Inc. (OTC:IEVT) announced that it has been selected to provide online registration services for all events hosted by Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Orange County, California Chapter (http://www.mpioc.com), through Jan. 1, 2002.

By using iNetEvents' revolutionary event-management application, Meeting Professionals International, Orange County, California Chapter, can Web-enable its upcoming meetings, send out invitations electronically, manage sponsors, speakers and attendees, even solicit donations, all through the click of a mouse.

Meeting Professionals International, Orange County, California Chapter, based in Orange, Calif., is a non-profit, professional meetings management association, consisting of 430 active meeting planner, supplier, associate and student members.

The association's mission is to position meetings as a primary communications vehicle and a critical component of an organization's success. It leads the industry by serving the diverse needs of all people with a direct interest in the outcome of meetings. It educates and prepares members for their changing roles in the greater business world.

MPI Orange County's 2001-2002 President-Elect Jeffrey Bals was responsible for orchestrating the due diligence and investigation of plausible online registration solutions for the association. According to Bals, CMP, a 12-year veteran in the meetings and events industry: "iNetEvents, from initial contact, was more than receptive to share their systems capabilities with us as well as customize and expand their features to meet our needs. The iNetEvents system has the overall capabilities for streamlining a tedious process dreaded by most meeting planners."

Lisa De Ritis, vice president of Sales & Marketing, iNetEvents, commented: "iNetEvents is proud that our Web-based event management solution passed the ultimate challenge, and was chosen by the board of directors of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Orange County, California Chapter, to Web-enable their 2001 Calendar of Events. We look forward to working closely with MPIOC and its members as they embrace the tremendous power of the Internet to expand the impact of their events."

About iNetEvents Inc.

iNetEvents Inc. (http://www.inetevents.com/), based in Los Angeles, develops a range of Web-based software applications designed specifically for the event producer who plans conferences, expositions, seminars and corporate meetings. The company's products enable the event producer to reduce administration costs and time, enhance the attendee and exhibitor experience, and promote greater interactivity.

Craig Monaghan Departs iVillage.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2000

iVillage Inc. (NASDAQ:IVIL), operator of iVillage.com: The Women's Network (http://www.ivillage.com and AOL keyword: ivillage), today announced that Craig Monaghan, the Company's CFO since June 1998, has resigned to become CFO of Autonation, Inc. (NYSE: AN). Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Autonation is America's largest automotive retailer and a Fortune 100 company with $20 billion in revenue.

Scott Levine, Vice President, Controller & Chief Accounting Officer at iVillage, will serve as interim CFO while a search is conducted. Mr. Levine has been with iVillage since February 1999 and was heavily involved in the Company's initial and follow-on public offerings. Additionally, Mr. Levine was involved with iVillage at its inception, as acting audit manager on the Company's account during his tenure at PricewaterhouseCoopers (formerly Coopers & Lybrand).

Candice Carpenter, iVillage CEO commented, "Craig began his career at three Fortune 500 companies, so it is not surprising that he is taking the opportunity to be CFO of a Fortune 100 company. Craig has been with iVillage for two years and has been a key contributor to our success, having built a sound and sophisticated financial structure at the Company."

About iVillage.com: The Women's Network

iVillage.com: The Women's Network (http://www.ivillage.com and AOL keyword: ivillage) is the leading women's network online providing practical solutions and everyday support for women between the ages of 25 and 54. iVillage.com is organized into branded communities that focus on issues of most importance to women and provide interactive services, peer support and online access to experts through 16 content channels and several stores. Content channels include allHealth, Astrology, Beauty, Book Club, Click!: Where Computers Make Sense, Diet & Fitness, Food, Garden, MoneyLife, ParentsPlace, Parent Soup, Pets, Relationships, Travel, Work from Home, and Working Diva, and are complemented by stores such as iBaby , iMaternity, Shopping Central, and PlusBoutique. Established in 1995 and headquartered in New York City, iVillage Inc. (Nasdaq: IVIL) is a new media company, recognized as an industry leader in developing innovative sponsorship and commerce relationships that match the desire of marketers to reach women with the needs of iVillage.com members for relevant information and services.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation

Reform Act of 1995:

iVillage Inc. has included in this press release certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning iVillage's business, operations and financial condition. The words or phrases "can be", "expects", "may affect", "may depend", "believes", "estimate", "project" and similar words and phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties and iVillage cautions you that any forward-looking information provided by or on behalf of iVillage is not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond iVillage's control, in addition to those discussed in iVillage's other press releases, public filings and statements by iVillage's management, including (i) the volatile and competitive nature of the Internet industry, (ii) changes in domestic and foreign economic and market conditions, (iii) the effect of federal, state and foreign regulation on iVillage's business, and (iv) the impact of recent and future acquisitions on iVillage's business and financial condition. All such forward-looking statements are current only as of the date on which such statements were made. iVillage does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which any such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

MP3: Online Music Pumps Up the Volume.(MP3 format makes it possible to download music from the Internet)(Brief Article)

When he wants to listen to some Led Zeppelin after a hard day in class, Elliot Stevenson of Tappan, N.Y., doesn't reach for a CD. He turns on his computer, clicks to the band's Web site, and downloads a song. Moments later, "Black Dog" is blasting through his speakers.

For many music fans, the ability to download music off the Internet seems like the best advance in audio since Grandpa packed away his scratchy LPs. The innovation that's responsible: MP3, a computer format that compresses digital information, making it possible to transmit sound better and faster.

MP3 Web sites have spread faster than hallway gossip, and the largest, mp3.com, offers some 56,000 songs. That's good news for unknown performers who need the exposure, but big marquee stars have also begun to appreciate MP3. Tori Amos and Alanis Morissette agreed to perform live over MP3 Web sites this year, and Public Enemy released its latest album on the Web last summer even before its CD hit the stores.

Not everyone stands to gain from MP3, however. Record companies, worried that their music is being given away free, robbing them of royalities, now have more to fret about: portable players like the Rio (below) that let people take MP3 music anywhere. At $200, they're still "a little pricey," says Elliott, 16, but if they prompt even more people to download free songs, the next big sound you hear might be that of record-company lawyers complaining to Congress.

RELATED ARTICLE: Web Music: How to Begin

BY DAVID KUSHNER

FINDING MP3 AUDIO

1. MP3.com (http://www.mp3.com) offers pop, alternative, country, hip-hop, and spoken-word tracks. Most are by lesser-known artists, though major stars also promise live concerts on the site.

PLAYING MP3

2. To decode MP3 files, you need to download special software. For Windows, try Winamp (http://www.winamp.com); Macintosh users can try Macamp (http://www.macamp.com). The sites include detailed downloading instructions.

PORTABLE PLAYERS

Priced at less than $200, the palm-sized Diamond Rio (left) has become the Walkman of MP3, playing about an hour's worth of near CD-quality music.