Now, here's a quickie that'll make you giggle (especially if you've been drinking). If you're tired of stories about Microsoft that focus on 1) antitrust issues or 2) security holes that you can steer an aircraft carrier through while blindfolded, today we've got something a little different for you: it's Microsoft vs. the American Medical Association on the issue of underage drinking. (Judging by the spelling and content of some of the mail we receive, we're guessing that at least some of you are finally going to be siding with Microsoft in an argument.)

According to an Associated Press article pointed out to us by faithful viewer Matthew Guerrieri, the AMA is going after Microsoft because MSN has apparently been "advertising alcohol-related gifts as back-to-school care packages for homesick college students"-- namely, a "microbrew kit" and "a book of beer drinking games." (Is there a Microsoft drinking game? What, do you chug every time you get an "illegal operation" error? No wonder the AMA's ticked off; most people would be dead of alcohol poisoning in mere hours.)

The AMA calls MSN's move "extremely misguided"; Microsoft, we imagine, privately calls the strategy "playing to one's audience." Publicly, however, MSN has stated that "in this case it appears as though an error was made," and the company is "taking the necessary steps to remove the products." Steps? Isn't it interesting that after being informed of the "error," MSN claims that it can't remove the offending ads right away? Why, a cynical and paranoid individual might go so far as to conclude that Microsoft hopes to capitalize on the free publicity for an extra day before yanking the ads. The rest of you can go on believing MSN's claim that the delay is simply "related to a schedule for updating the web site."

In any case, lest those of you teen drunks out there feel you might have to start actually supporting Microsoft because of this little development, fear not: the company's official stance is that "MSN in no way condones underage drinking," so feel free to continue hurling drunken and slurred verbal abuse in the direction of Redmond whenever you get plastered. And before we get flooded with irate mail accusing us of corrupting the nation's youth, much as it pains us to agree with MSN on any subject in public, our lawyers tell us we should state that AtAT also feels that underage drinking is the dark and nasty evil that's eventually going to send all of western civilization crashing down around our ears. Well, either underage drinking or Windows. Actually, probably Windows. But still, kids, alcohol's a drug, and drugs are bad, mmkay?