A search for prior art for a totally absurd patent that is being used to threaten podcasters.

It describes using a web site (or anything somewhat similar) for an activity comparable to publishing a magazine. No sensible person would consider this an invention. The fact that one needs to look for prior art to invalidate this nonsense demonstrates that the US Patent Office still applies ridiculous standards. (And not only in the computing field.)

However, even a "well run" patent system would still be harmful in the computing field, because patents cause grid-lock in any field which involves combining many ideas in one work or product.

To protect against patents by invalidating those that can be invalidated is like trying to protect yourself from malaria by swatting mosquitoes. By all means do swat them, but we need to go beyond that. The US can protect software from patents by exempting them specifically.