TechByter Worldwide 2009.12.20: Fixing Exposure Problems with Creative Layers and Masking; Happy New Year from Windows 7; A Despicable Practice by a Company I Like and Respect; and Short Circuits.

Adobe Photoshop has some features that allow users to improve photos with exposure problems. I'll tell you about the creative use of layers, masking, and blend modes. Nine months after installing Windows 7, I still consider it the best version of Windows ever. An update to Adobe Shockwave installed a "craplet" from Symantec on my computer and I'm more that a little angry about it. In Short Circuits: The FTC files new charges against Intel and Google will start selling a phone (or not, depending on who's talking.)