Daily Archives: April 26, 2005

Falk vs. Lautenschlager? Why bother?

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Milfred:

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk surely had her eye on Herb Kohl’s U.S. Senate seat until Kohl indicated he’ll seek re-election next year.

Now Falk may be contemplating a bid for attorney general — even if incumbent Peg Lautenschlager wants to keep the job.

When I asked Falk recently if she might challenge Lautenschlager, she paused for a few moments. Then she carefully responded: “Wherever I go, people are encouraging me to run.”

If I were Kathleen, and I’m not, I would run for Governor.

Business/Politics as usual is a real problem. I don’t see any new thinking (taxes, economic development, bright flight from the UW system, local education, broadband, government/public service efficiency) from the current regime, or from the Republicans for that matter. If not Governor, then why not challenge Kohl? I think it’s time for some new blood in that seat as well.

Microsoft’s Next Windows, Longhorn….

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This Bill Gates quote: “Gates did promise that Microsoft’s biggest-ever marketing campaign would accompany Longhorn’s release. Microsoft recently announced plans for a precursor to that campaign, a “Start Something” blitz that will tout the abilities of current versions of Windows.” reminds me of SUN Microsystem Founder Bill Joy’s great quote: “The quality of a company’s software has an inverse relationship to the amount of money spent on marketing”. I’ve found this to be uniformly true.

Hackworth: Desert One, a Watershed Event

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David Hackworth:

April 24 and 25 marked the 25th anniversary of “Operation Eagle Claw,” Jimmy Carter’s ill-fated attempt to salvage his presidency by rescuing 53 Americans held hostage in Tehran by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It’s also the date of one of the U.S. military’s worst self-inflicted public humiliations.

By the time the joint mission was canceled, eight American warriors – five from the Air Force, three from the Marines – had been killed, and dozens were wounded.

Hackworth also discloses the apparent “real” reason the mission was aborted.

Rutherford County, TN: Fastest growth in jobs

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Kasey Wehrum:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its figures for the fastest-growing large counties in terms of job growth last week, and Rutherford County, Tennessee came in on top at 9.2 percent.

Small businesses’ hiring habits played no small role in the number of jobs created and lost, according to Brian Headd, economist at the Small Business Administration.

“”hen a large company lays off thousands of employees it is national news, but in fact, the rise and fall of small businesses has a much greater effect on job growth than most people realize,” said Headd.

Madison Center of Wired World?

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Andrew Wallmeyer argues that “Madison-area consumers have a ringside seat” to telco battles between cable, phone and internet firms. Is this true? I think not. Here’s why:

  • Madison lacks wifi at the airport – lagging other communities who have had this for years.
  • There is no production fiber to the home or premise happening here.
  • Currently available “broadband” services (Charter cable, SBC DSL and TDS DSL) substantially lag those available in Japan & Korea, in terms of performance and cost.

I have quite a few links on broadband – click to check them out.
I think Wallmeyer should revisit this with a comparison of services available elsewhere – in the US and around the world. Fiber is coming to the home, in a few places, just not Madison. WiFi is widely available in some communities now, just not generally here. We’re behind, it’s as simple as that.

UPDATE: Japan’s NTT is now offering 100mpbs to the home for Y4,700/month ($45)…. We’re further behind….