A federal judge today has asked Microsoft to put down about $500 million to Alcatel in damages plus interest, supporting the jury’s verdict that the software maker infringed on two patents. The jury decided that it infringed on an Alcatel patent that is all about software users choosing a calendar DATE from a menu in some programs like Microsoft Outlook. Wow! I am sure today’s DATE will be marked in that calendar eternally. Let’s see what happens when the giant appeals the ruling.