Ireland’s John Bruton Interview

Posted on October 30, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

Q: Last week, we had as our guest Stanford Professor Michael Boskin, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors to the first President Bush. Boskin invoked an image of Europe of high taxes, high spending, overly generous social welfare networks, high unemployment and stagnant growth as something the United States must avoid at all costs. What is the European view of that critique?

A: If you took each of the 50 states in the U.S., you would find quite different economic performance as between Mississippi and California or as between Washington state or West Virginia. There are varieties in Europe, just as there are varieties here in the United States.

On average, productivity per hour worked is as high in Europe as it is in the United States, right across the board. In some countries like Ireland and the Netherlands, it is higher. However, Europeans work fewer hours. They work fewer hours per year, per week and per lifetime. They retire earlier.

Bruton was formerly Prime Minister of Ireland in the 1990’s.

The Dilbert Blog

Posted on October 29, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

Scott Adams has started a Dilbert Blog.

Friday Night Hockey and Halloween

Posted on October 29, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

Walking toward the Kohl Center Friday evening (Hockey: UW defeated Alaska-Anchorage 6-1), I chanced across a number of costumed students, out of state cars dropping off students armed with sleeping bags and several parties well underway. I mentioned to one of the students that I recall that the Halloween party was historically Saturday night. The response was simply a roll of the eyes and “it starts now…”. Jesse posted some photos from Friday evening’s crowd.

One little known benefit of Friday’s UW win: Culvers offers free ice cream with your tickets when the Badgers score 5 or more goals. We swapped four tickets for four cups of ice cream later that evening.

Kristian Knutsen is also covering these events

7 Principles of Leadership

Posted on October 28, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

Management Issues:

rganisations also need to select managers with the potential to become good leaders and fulfil the leadership skills required.

They need to give them the right training to help managers to gain skills and become good leaders.

There needs to be a clear career development policy in place, as leadership requirements will vary depending on the task and role.

Leadership development should be integrated closely with career development, it added.

Internet Use is Up!

Posted on October 28, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

Stephen Ohlemacher:

Internet usage increased with education, income and the presence of school-age children at home, the report found. It was lowest among adults who have not graduated from high school.

School-age children are most likely to use home computers to play games or do school work. Adults are most likely to use home computers for e-mail, to search for information about products and services, and to read news, weather and sports information.

The report is based on data from the bureau’s October 2003 Current Population Survey, the country’s primary source of labor statistics. It is the bureau’s latest information on computer and Internet use, though it is two years old and experts say Americans’ computer habits are quickly evolving.

“We actually think the (Internet) penetration in households is higher,” said Greg Stuart, president and CEO of the Internet Advertising Bureau, which helps online companies increase revenue.

No Cell Phone Tracking Without Probable Cause

Posted on October 27, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

EFF:

Agreeing with a brief submitted by EFF, a federal judge forcefully rejected the government’s request to track the location of a mobile phone user without a warrant.
Strongly reaffirming an earlier decision, Federal Magistrate James Orenstein in New York comprehensively smacked down every argument made by the government in an extensive, fifty-seven page opinion issued this week. Judge Orenstein decided, as EFF has urged, that tracking cell phone users in real time required a showing of probable cause that a crime was being committed. Judge Orenstein’s opinion was decisive, and referred to government arguments variously as “unsupported,” “misleading,” “contrived,” and a “Hail Mary.”

Media “Titans” An Interview with GE/NBC’s Bob Wright

Posted on October 26, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

John Battelle:

nd he might not even be done yet: In July the New York Post reported that NBC Universal is in talks to acquire DreamWorks SKG, a move that would beef up its movie portfolio.
So far, sticking with content looks like a smart bet. Even as NBC plummeted to fourth place in viewership, cable and film earnings kept the company, which is 80 percent owned by GE (GE) and 20 percent by Vivendi, growing in the double digits. But Wright has more on his mind than a replacement for Friends. Electronic piracy, the bane of the music industry, is starting to hit movies. Google, TiVo, and Yahoo are threatening to upend the video business. Wright still believes he’s made the right bet — content, he says, will have value, no matter who distributes it. But he openly admits that the Internet is making things “awkward” for him. Business 2.0 met with Wright to find out how he plans to sort things out.

Exclusive Municipal Broadband Franchises

Posted on October 26, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

802.11 news:

Anaheim, Calif., will consider franchising EarthLink to operate a municipal network: This is the clearest proposal I’ve heard to date regarding the franchising and exclusivity aspect of municipal broadband networks. Many requests for proposals (RFPs) hint at or ignore the fact that a winning bidder may ask for or be granted exclusive use of facilities like poles, towers, building tops, and other city resources. This article from Government Technology notes that Anaheim’s City Council will consider a 20-year agreement with EarthLink that will award the company an exclusive franchise. Anaheim has some fiber, and EarthLink would gain access to that.

Monroe’s Ethanol (E85) for $1.96/Gallon

Posted on October 25, 2005 by Jim Zellmer

Channel3000:

he price won’t stay under a dollar, but even at $1.96 a gallon, drivers will be smiling.
Cory said the corn-based fuel gives him fewer miles per gallon, but he figures he’s still 4 to 5 cents per gallon ahead with the savings at the pump.
He also likes the fact that he’s helping local farmers.
“I think anything we can do to help our own markets and build up our own economy is a lot better off and this is really clean burning fuel,” he said.

The Next Battery?