ie Magazine reports that immediately after the Xbox launch in Australia, Microsoft committed several acts of vandalism in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, hiring Spin Communications to do street sprays -- graffitti. Xbox logos were sprayed on several buildings without the permission of the local city councils; Microsoft faces a $300 fine for the removal of each. Thanks Xbox365.

CoreMagazine is reporting that investment firm Salomon Barney Smith has downgraded Microsoft's stock from outperform to neutral status.

Reading between the lines here is difficult. Apparently, the fact that MS has raised expectations for Xbox-related revenue over the next three quarters is casting some doubt on the original revenue estimates for next year:

An article at Invisible Dream entitled GameCube-- Worth It? Part II has a few interesting comments in it about the Xbox and Halo:

In the wake of Nintendo's claim to have doubled the Xbox's sales, Microsoft is lining up retailers with positive experiences selling the Xbox this past week.

In this ConsoleWire story based on a PR Newswire item, GameStop President Dan Matteo called the Xbox launch the best he'd ever participated in:

The Financial Times is reporting from Tokyo that Nintendo intends to increase US GameCube shipments, and is confirming the estimated 700,000 units shipped so far:

Blue Yonder's Tom Bramwell has an article up on this past weekend's Xperience event to promote the Xbox console in the UK, and the reaction was less than stellar:

Goldman Sachs is reporting what sounds like good news for Xbox sales: That more stores are sold out of it than of Nintendo's GameCube. It looks like good news, until you look a little deeper.

TeamXbox has a story quoting a Goldman Sachs survey of retailers, stating that 73% had sold out of the Xbox, compared to only 47% sold out of GameCubes:

Cube.ign.com is running a story saying that Nintendo is claiming about $100 million worth of GameCube sales on their launch day:

Kevin Jones at ConsoleDomain is reporting that sales of Nintendo GameCube games, consoles and accessories totalled $98 million its first weekend:

SpondMax has posted a slightly altered version of Mumbo Jumbo's recent update at Myrgard Times. If you're a fan of black humor, it might be worth a laugh. If you're not, it might be actionable. You decide.

Cesar at TeamXbox has reported that this week the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) is suing 15 indivduals, including 11 Nvidia employees, for alleged insider trading in shares of the graphics chipmaker based on advance information that it would win a lucrative contract with Microsoft Corp. Five are being charged criminally.

From the TXB story:

First of all, read the official word on it. This stuff is over my head, and I don't want misinterpret it too much. Basically, Take Two Interactive (Nasdaq: TTWO) is to acquire 19.9% equity interest in Bungie, giving Take 2 distribution rights to Oni, Halo, and two other undisclosed projects (!), while Bungie retains their status as an independant developer.