Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Halliburton contract under review The US Army is considering breaking up its exclusive contract with Halliburton for logistical support to US troops worldwide, according to army and company officials. The move would open up billions of dollars in business for other companies and could help alleviate part of the political controversy associated with the company's contract acquisition. This came from janes.com.  Since I don't have a login to the site, I cannot follow it more deeply, but I also cannot say that this is a bad thing.  Especially during an election year when the current Vice-President is looking very sticky whenever Halliburton is mentioned.  We will see if this leads anywhere. 5:26:03 PM    comment []

NHL to Lock Out Players Thursday (AP). AP - The NHL will lock out its players Thursday, starting a work stoppage that threatens to keep the sport off the ice for the entire 2004-05 season. [Yahoo! News - Top Stories] What Mr. Bettman doesn't understand is that this could be the end of the NHL as we know it and that isn't a good thing for thousands of hockey players and millions in tax and revenue dollars that cities and their citizens have coughed up to build new ice palaces that will now sit functionally empty.  Ah well... 5:23:15 PM    comment []

Microsoft Not Trying To Hijack Anti-Spam Spec (NewsFactor). NewsFactor - The Internet Engineering Task Force, an organization devoted to establishing standards for Internet architecture, has raised concerns about Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Sender ID anti-spam technology as a technical standard. [Yahoo! News - Technology] Did I not mention this was a marketing ploy by Redmond some months back?  Now the IETF isn't always know for doing the best thing, but it may be on to something here. 5:19:40 PM    comment []

Microsoft exec takes aim at open source. New platform chief, Ashim Pal, says software giant has been on the defensive against Linux and other rivals. [CNET News.com] He thinks Micro$oft has been understated?  Clearly he isn't reading their marketing material...even though he used to work for Meta.  Must have written one hell of a good report for Redmond to hire him. 5:17:21 PM    comment []

I wanted to share this little piece of spam that hit my in-box this afternoon.  If you DON'T understand why it jumped out at me as spam, then you really should not be on the Internet. Dear Beloved, I am Adaure Grimhelm Wormtongue, The only daughter of late Counsellor Gríma Wormtongue of the Kingdom of Rohan. My father was Chief Counsellor [equivalent to Prime Minister] to late lamented king Théoden of Rohan. In his position my father altogether legally and correctly acquired significant assets throughout Rohan in order to protect the Kingdom from enemy forces within and without. In the course of lamentable events succeeding, my father was illegally deprived of office and expelled from the Kingdom. Before this he had with foresight already entirely legally deposited gold worth US$18,000,000 with one of the Africa leading Banks in Cote d' Ivoire of which I will let you know if you identify your interest .While in exile in the north he was assaulted and murdere by a band of northern Orcs.My family was obliged to seek refuge in northern Dunland among some of our sympathisers.. My father left to me all documents necessary the retrievement aforesaid from the Bank.However, in the current political circumstances my solicitor believes it unwise for me to attempt to make the trip from Dunland to Cote d' ivoire, and has recommended that I seek a trustworthy foreign business partner into whose account this amount worth of gold could be tranferred into.This appears to be the best option as we are unable to open an account in Dunland.Therefore I am seeking your trustworthy assistance and cooperation. You will provide information about your account that will enable a deposit to be made in your name.I will contact the Bank and inform them that the money is to be placed into your account.If the transaction goes well I will also look forward to maintaining you as a profitable business partner for future ventures. And upon your assistance I will be glad to give to you 10% for your assistance and 5% for all expenses that may occur in the transaction. Therefore I will need your phone and fax numbers to enable me send them to the bank immediately as well as the account number of which this fund will be transfer into. It goes without saying that I can expect your complete cooperation in keeping this matter confidential prefatory to completion as I awaits your urgent response. Best regards, Miss Adaure Grimhelm Wormtongue 4:29:27 PM    comment []

Maximizing your notebook's battery power. Tips to squeeze every last minute of power out of your notebook's battery. [Computerworld News] I have a notebook.  The battery life is posted at 2 hours.  I haven't gotten 2 hours out it yet.  These are good tips.  Now to see if they work. 10:33:59 AM    comment []

Gambling Linked to Good Health in Elderly (AP). AP - According to a surprising Yale University study, older recreational gamblers seem to be healthier than non-gamblers. [Yahoo! News - Top Stories] A very interesting story.  Not one the folks at Gamblers Anoymous are going to like...or the temperance movement that thinks all gambling is a sin. 10:31:06 AM    comment []

Job Woes Plague High Tech. Researchers say the industry bled 403,000 jobs between March 2001 and April 2004, and the high-tech market continues to shrink. [Wired News] This is one of the key reasons the economy is in the tubes.  When you loose this many technical jobs and don't replace them, you have a lot of talent sitting on the sidelines.  Think about that the next time your Internet connection fails.  After all, the people that built the Internet are not the people running it...which may explain why it is starting to show its age and its true usefulness is waning. 10:28:57 AM    comment []

Stocks Sink on Coke's Gloomy Forecast (AP). AP - Stocks headed lower Wednesday after beverage giant Coca-Cola Co. issued a gloomy forecast, and a lower-than-expected reading on industrial production for August threw the nation's broader economic outlook into question. [Yahoo! News - Top Stories] A "soft patch?" Is that what they are calling it?  Gee, in the 80's it was called a recession and in the 20s a depression.  At least millions of people are not out of work...just hundreds of thousands.  And the prospects for new jobs are....well, you fill in the blank.  Take this multi guess questionnaire: I work long hours because: a) I enjoy it b) I am doing the work of 6 people I haven't had a vacation in 18 month because: a) I am dedicated to my job b) I won't have a job to come back to I am not spending all my disposable income because: a) I am a miser b) My company is going to lay off 40% of my department in the next 6 weeks I am not making these up.  In the last month I have talked to a lot of people and I keep hearing the same thing over and over - either they are afraid to go on vacation because there won't be a job to return to, they are doing the work of 6 people because the companies are not hiring or they are getting ready for a layoff in the near future.  And with housing prices near $500,000 (that is one-half a MILLION dollars) for most single family homes, it isn't any wonder people are scared.  Tell me again this economy is recovering?  I don't believe it.  Neither should you. 10:23:12 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2004 David Lane.