Archive for May, 2005

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Congress Under Pressure As CAFTA Decision Nears

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Congress under pressure as CAFTA decision nears

Jim Bates | The Seattle Times.
Jeremy Simer gathers signatures for opponents of the Central American Free Trade Agreement on the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry in an effort to persuade Congressman Jay Inslee, who lives on the island.

Seattle Times business reporter Alwyn Scott writes about impending CAFTA legislation.

31 May, 2005 | No comments

China Revokes Increase In Textile Export Tariffs In Trade Dispute With U.S., Europe

China Revokes Increase In Textile Export Tariffs In Trade Dispute With U.S., Europe

Looms of Distress?

Tuesday, May 31, 2005
By Joe McDonald, The Associated Press

BEIJING — China on Monday scrapped concessions meant to avert a trade war with the United States and Europe, responding to new U.S. and European quotas by cancelling plans to increase export tariffs on Chinese textiles that are flooding their markets.

By Joe McDonald, The Associated Press
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

31 May, 2005 | No comments

Court Overturns Arthur Andersen Conviction: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Court Overturns Arthur Andersen Conviction: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

By HOPE YEN
Associated Press Writer
Posted May 31 2005, 10:53 AM EDT

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned the conviction of the Arthur Andersen accounting firm for destroying Enron Corp.-related documents before the energy giant’s collapse.

31 May, 2005 | No comments

Geek.com Geek News - Government Seeks ISP Records

Geek.com Geek News - Government Seeks ISP Records

With contention from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the federal government is seeking a legislative initiative to secure proprietary customer information from Internet Service Providers.

While some critics contend that they have always presumed that the federal government was monitoring their activities, others believe that individual civil liberties are being violated under the auspices of protecting America’s citizenry from perceived threats, domestically and internationally.

As the consummate simpleton, I tend to believe like one Geek.Com participant had espoused in his/her posting, in that, one should refrain from publishing questionable content on the Internet that he or she would not like to read on the front page of their local newspaper.

31 May, 2005 | No comments

HoustonChronicle.Com - SMU Lecturer Takes Heat For Telling Blog

HoustonChronicle.Com - SMU Lecturer Takes Heat For Telling Blog

DALLAS - For most of the past two semesters, nobody knew the identity of “The Phantom Professor.”

The educator’s anonymous Web log, set at an unnamed university “in the South,” spun tales of spoiled-rich “Ashleys” with their $500 sandals and $1,500 handbags, eating disorders, plagiarism and drug use, legal and illegal.

“At this school it seems like every kid is on multiple medications,” the professor wrote, describing her charges as “barely literate,” prone to emotional problems and “terrified of displeasing Mommy and Daddy.”

Hopefully, none of my former college professors will adopt their own “Phantom Prof” weblog.

31 May, 2005 | No comments

Bidding Fierce For Chinese Online Buyers / Great Prospects For eBay Growth, But Local Competition is at Its Heels

Bidding Fierce For Chinese Online Buyers / Great Prospects For eBay Growth, But Local Competition is at Its Heels

Shanghai — Ji Yuwen skips work at least once a week, but not because he’s slacking off. It’s just that he can make more money selling jewelry from home on eBay than he can at the home inspection business he started a year ago.

For the past three years, Ji, 23, has been selling shoes, cell phones and jewelry on eBay EachNet, the Chinese version of the San Jose online auction giant eBay. He makes about $120 a month selling online. Some months, he has made $400 to $500, roughly twice the average monthly salary in Shanghai.

Ji Yuwen of Shanghai sells jewelry, cell phones and shoes on EachNet. Photo by Ling Liu, special to the Chronicle.

EBay ads in China involve a play on words, as the Chinese term for “auction” sounds like the words to “pat” or “clap.” Photo by Ling Liu, special to the Chronicle.

By Ling Liu, Special To The Chronicle
The San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco, California

31 May, 2005 | No comments

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: A Google Giveaway: Its Strategy

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: A Google Giveaway: Its Strategy

In his “E-Conomy” column, Seattle Times technology columnist Paul Andrews discusses Google’s penchant for political affairs, proclivity for giving away free items and interesting factoids about America’s e-mail addiction.

30 May, 2005 | No comments

WorkZone: Online Temptation To Take Care of Personal Business While at Work Can Be Hard To Avoid

WorkZone: Online Temptation To Take Care of Personal Business While at Work Can Be Hard To Avoid

Stacy Innerst | The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

God bless the Internet, savior to all those who struggle to survive a boring work day.

Apparently, that’s most of us — 58 percent to be exact, according to a recent study by Websense Inc., a San Diego/based Internet software company.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Corilyn Shropshire reports on the potential pitfalls for having an “always-on” connection to the World Wide Web during working hours.

30 May, 2005 | No comments

Fewer Students Seek Computer Degrees - 05/29/05

Fewer Students Seek Computer Degrees - 05/29/05

The number of undergraduates signing up for computer degrees is falling fast, making IBM Corp. and other tech companies worry that there soon won’t be enough skilled U.S. workers to meet demand.

New enrollment in North American computer science and engineering programs has dropped four years straight, falling 10 percent during the 2003-04 school year from the year before, says the Computing Research Association, a trade group for computer professors.

“During the dot-com boom, everybody saw computer science as the best major for making lots of money when they got out,” said Martha Pollack, who chairs the University of Michigan’s computer science and engineering division. “Now a lot of students are being scared off by all the media attention on outsourcing.”

30 May, 2005 | No comments

Study: Wireless Wins More Business Customers - 05/29/05

Study: Wireless Wins More Business Customers - 05/29/05

Donna Terek / The Detroit News.
Al Ebo, 33, of Lincoln Park uses a cell phone in Troy’s Oakland Mall. Businesses seem to prefer wireless carriers when choosing communication services, a survey reports.

J.K. Wall of the Indianapolis Star writes:

In telecommunications, wireless services are winning over business-to-business customers better than traditional voice and long-distance services.

30 May, 2005 | No comments

Chicago Tribune | Sihanouk Holds Court On The Web

Chicago Tribune | Sihanouk Holds Court On The Web

Interestingly, former King Norodom Sihanouk of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has taken a keen level of interest in the contemporary blogosphere.

It’s not a typical blog, but the former Cambodian monarch’s Internet site pulls no punches in thousands of discourses on politics, Hollywood and killer spouses

By Miranda Leitsinger
Associated Press
Published May 30, 2005

Eccentric, unpredictable but dearly loved by his people, 81-year-old Norodom Sihanouk has given up Cambodia’s throne. On Friday he is due to see his son crowned in his place.

30 May, 2005 | No comments

McDonald’s Beefs Up Menu For Tech-Savvy

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002292808_btwiredmcd30.html

CHICAGO — Burning CDs, downloading mobile-phone ringtones, even printing digital-quality photos could soon be the newest things on the McDonald’s menu.

In a bid to draw the young and tech-savvy into its restaurants, McDonald’s has begun pilot testing a new ATM-style device called the Blaze Net, which allows customers to buy music, ringtones, print photos and surf the Web at the restaurant.

30 May, 2005 | No comments

Technology Brings Loss To The World

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002292912_memorial30m.html

Seattle Times staff reporter Alex Fryer discusses the manner in which the advent of nascent technologies spawned from the Internet’s continual evolution has enabled stateside Americans to stay abreast of salient international issues in which their loved ones stationed overseas are involved.

This is an excellent article in which to wish a memorable Memorial Day weekend to the soldiers fighting for America’s freedom overseas, as well as the soldiers who lost their lives in previous conflicts so that American citizens could partake of modern conveniences in today’s world.

30 May, 2005 | No comments

U.S. Cities Weigh Broadband Access

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002292820_munibroadband30.html

Leonard Ray, president of the Fiber to the Home Council, which supports the development of high-speed Internet, said providing access is important beyond telecommuting or sending videos of your daughter to your grandparents.

“It goes to the productivity and security of this country years down the road,” he said. “Will this country have the electronic infrastructure to remain on top?”

Seattle Times technology reporter Tricia Duryee publicizes the ubiquity of municipal legislative initiatives aimed at bringing broadband access to the digital masses.

Unfortunately, the question remains if America possesses an adequate electronic infrastructure to sustain the country’s superpower status in the new millennium.

30 May, 2005 | No comments

My thoughts: Where is the US headed?

After posting the piece on the US not supporting new developments of the internet, I came across an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education that examines the lawsuit bewteen the recording industry and the P2P software manufacturers. The Chronicle piece does an excellent job of examining US history and how looking the other way in instances like this has enabled the US to innovate.
More

26 May, 2005 | No comments

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