NewsScan Daily, 30 August 2004 ("Above The Fold")

NewsScan Daily, 30 August 2004 ("Above The Fold")
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"ABOVE THE FOLD"
        Microsoft to Speed Longhorn to Market
        EU Probe into Microsoft-Time Warner Deal
        Intel Strains to Cut Power Consumption
        New PC Boasts 10X the Power of Standard Desktops
        Nokia, Vodafone Join Forces
        Akimbo Launches Web-to-TV Service

FEATURES
        Flash Card
        Honorary Subscriber: Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleyev
        Mailbag: The World As We Find It

MICROSOFT TO SPEED LONGHORN TO MARKET
      Microsoft is planning to push ahead with next year's launch of its 
new Windows version, code-named Longhorn, but the company's much-touted new 
technology for organizing and storing data won't be included. Tom Button, 
VP for Windows product management, says the company is planning to release 
Longhorn in the second half of 2006, but will wait to release the storage 
technology until a later, unspecified date. Industry analyst Rob Enderle 
says the decision to delay "isn't a good surprise," but says in any event 
it's crucial for Microsoft to have the new storage technology ready by the 
time it launches a new version of Windows Server software in 2007. 
(AP/SiliconValley.com 27 Aug 2004)
<http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/9516763.htm>

EU PROBE INTO MICROSOFT-TIME WARNER DEAL
      The European Commission has announced an in-depth probe into a deal 
by Microsoft and Time Warner to buy a digital rights company, which it said 
risks extending Microsoft's dominance into that field. The EU executive arm 
said on Wednesday that a preliminary assessment of the proposed acquisition 
of U.S. firm ContentGuard had failed to allay its concerns. "It appears to 
the Commission that the transaction might possibly create or strengthen a 
dominant position by Microsoft in the market for Digital Rights Management 
(DRM) solutions," said a Commission statement. (The Age 26 Aug 2004) rec'd 
from John Lamp, Deakin U.
<http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/26/1093456713450.html>

INTEL STRAINS TO CUT POWER CONSUMPTION
      Intel's next generation of computer chips will use improved strained 
silicon, a technology that can boost performance by 30% by decreasing 
inadvertent electricity leakage. In addition, Intel's new 65-nanometer 
manufacturing process will incorporate transistors that block power to 
other circuits, further conserving power consumption and leakage. The first 
chips made with the new process will debut in late 2005, in time to comply 
with the relentless timetable imposed by Moore's Law. Experts say by 2021 
or so, Moore's Law likely will end, as transistor elements will have 
reached their technological limitations on further shrinkage. (CNet 
News.com 29 Aug 2004)
<http://news.com.com/2100-1006-5327521.html>

NEW PC BOASTS 10X THE POWER OF STANDARD DESKTOPS
      Orion Multisystems has unveiled a desktop workstation that packs the 
punch of 12 processors yet consumes about the same amount of power as a 
standard desktop PC. Orion says its new machine will deliver ten times the 
performance of a standard PC and is aiming its product at a series of 
markets for high-performing computing, ranging from supercomputer labs to 
pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. "We represent the tip of a trend 
that the industry as a whole is coming to," says Orion CEO Colin Hunter. 
"Over the next five years, virtually all computer systems will be made up 
of clusters of processors." The company initially is introducing two 
systems: the 12-processor model, priced under $10,000 and an under-the-desk 
96-processor model priced below $100,000 and designed to draw about 1,500 
watts -- about the maximum power deliverable from a standard electrical 
outlet. "I'm quite intrigued," says Horst Simon, director of the National 
Energy Research Scientific Computer Center at the Lawrence Berkeley 
National Laboratory. "Orion fills a performance gap between the desktop and 
the departmental computer." And while some skeptics say it will be 
difficult for Orion to find a toehold in the computing cluster field, they 
generally acknowledge that the company's design is a step in the right 
direction. "This is a new era. Now the issue of power consumption is a lot 
more important than it used to be," says one industry expert. (New York 
Times 30 Aug 2004)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/30/technology/30work.html>

NOKIA, VODAFONE JOIN FORCES
      Nokia and Vodafone are working together to simplify mobile phone 
software using the Java computer language, paving the way for cheaper 
mobile phones in the long run. "The aim of the initiative is to simplify 
mobile Java standards by defining the next generation, open standards-based 
mobile Java services architecture specifications," Nokia says. That means 
that a program written in Java could easily be transferred to another 
mobile phone that also uses Java, which is currently not the case because 
there is no standard specification. (The Australian 27 Aug 2004) rec'd from 
John Lamp, Deakin U.
<http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,10583910%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html>

AKIMBO LAUNCHES WEB-TO-TV SERVICE
      California startup Akimbo Systems is hoping to become the first 
successful purveyor of cinema services delivered via the Internet to the 
living room television. "Twenty years from now, everyone's going to be 
getting all their video mostly from the Internet," says Akimbo founder 
Steve Shannon. "You see it happening with music. You see it happening with 
phone service. Video is next." Akimbo faces steep competition from 
entrenched rivals such as SBC, which is teaming up with EchoStar to launch 
an online movie-on-demand service next year, and TiVo, which is also 
readying a product that will connect Web content to the TV screen. And of 
course there's always the question of whether consumers want to fork out 
$229 for another set-top box, plus a $10 per month subscription fee. 
"You're competing against a lot of consumer electronic gadgets out there 
and many consumers are paying almost triple-digit monthly fees for video 
entertainment, so how much more are consumers going to pay for 
entertainment in the living room?" asks one market research expert. But 
while it's currently possible to stream video from the Internet currently 
to the TV, the PC must be located near the TV or the consumer must have 
some kind of media adapter and a home computer network -- not to mention a 
certain level of technical know-how. "It's not easy to marry the TV with a 
PC, but Akimbo takes content off the Internet and puts it in the TV in an 
easy-to-use fashion," says Bruce Eisen, executive VP of CinemaNow, which 
will provide content on Akimbo's service. (AP 30 Aug 2004)
<http://apnews.excite.com/article/20040830/D84PH0O81.html>

*****

FLASH CARD
      "Chemists are a strange class of mortals, impelled by an almost 
maniacal impulse to seek their pleasures amongst smoke and vapour, soot and 
flames, poisons and poverty, yet amongst all these evils I seem to live so 
sweetly that I would rather die than change places with the King of 
Persia." (Johann Joachim Becher)

HONORARY SUBSCRIBER: DMITRY IVANOVICH MENDELEYEV
      Today's Honorary Subscriber is the Russian chemist Dmitry Ivanovich 
Mendeleyev (1834-1907), who developed the periodic classification of the 
elements on the basis of their atomic structures, and their chemical and 
physical properties. Mendeleyev's final version of the periodic table 
contained gaps for elements not then known, but he accurately predicted the 
properties for three of them, all of which were discovered within the next 
20 years. After the English chemist and physicist John Dalton had developed 
the idea of atomic weights, other scientists had tried to incorporate that 
knowledge into an ordered classification system, but it was Mendeleyev who 
finally succeeded in creating the periodic table.
      Mendeleyev was born in Tobolsk, Siberia in 1834. That same year his 
schoolteacher father went blind, forcing his mother, a member of a Siberian 
merchant family, to become the family breadwinner by operating a glass 
factory. His father died in 1847, and the following year fire destroyed the 
glass factory. His mother then moved the family to St. Petersburg where 
Mendeleyev became a student in the Physics and Mathematics department of 
the Pedagogical Institute in St. Petersburg.
      In 1855 he was certified as a teacher, and later his excellent 
academic record enabled him to pursue further studies in chemistry, first 
at Odessa, and then at St. Petersburg. In 1859 the government sent him for 
further study to the University of Heidelberg, where he began his studies 
of molecular cohesion and made useful contacts with other European chemists 
with similar interests.
      When Mendeleyev returned to St. Petersburg in 1861, he spent time at 
scientific editing and writing, until in 1864 he was appointed professor of 
chemistry at the Technical Institute. Three years later he was promoted to 
professor of general chemistry at the university. Dissatisfied with 
existing textbooks, he spent the years 1868 to 1870 writing his own, "The 
Principles of Chemistry," which became a classic. The need for 
systematizing his ideas in writing his textbook contributed substantially 
to his formulation of the periodic law in March 1869.
      Theory and teaching did not completely absorb all of Mendeleyev's 
time and energies. He also worked on practical problems of the Russian 
petroleum industry. On a visit to the United States in 1876, he criticized 
American oil interests for merely expanding production without improving 
industrial efficiency or product quality. Mendeleyev also worked on other 
matters such as the liquefaction of gases, the expansion of liquids, the 
inorganic origin of petroleum, the chemistry of coal, and a system of 
Russian weights and measures.
      Mendeleyev held progressive views and advocated social reform, and in 
1890 he spoke out in support of a student protest against certain 
university injustices. This resulted in his forced retirement. His stature 
as a scientist, however, was such that he was allowed to end his working 
days as head of the Bureau of Weights and Measures. In 1906, a few months 
before his death, Mendeleyev missed winning the Nobel Prize for chemistry 
by one vote.

See <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312262043/ 
newsscancom/ref=nosim> for a biography of Mendeleyev -- or look for it in 
your favorite library. [Note: We donate all revenue from our book 
recommendations to adult literacy programs.]

MAILBAG: THE WORLD AS WE FIND IT

THE WELL-ROUNDED ENGINEER
Re: <http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=11243>
      As an engineer, I just wanted to respond to the question posed by Jim 
McGee, "Why would a financially prudent individual pick an engineering 
career?" It is true that many engineering fields require a great deal of 
specialization; however, it is also true that most engineers enter those 
fields with at least a bachelor's and likely higher degrees or extensive 
experience. Engineers often call upon a broad background of knowledge, even 
while working within their specialty. Those college classes in chemistry, 
physics, electricity, as well as composition, speech, business, music and 
art all provide the background upon which the engineer builds a knowledge 
base that will serve him or her well for a lifetime. (Bob Moffett)

WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER
Re: <http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=11233>
      Maybe it's because I and everyone I know is being pushed to the max, 
but my immediate thought upon reading the end part of the Deming quote 
("The transformation will restore the individual... Leadership will replace 
these bad practices, and will restore the individual.") was "When Hell 
freezes over." As I hear or say at least once a day "Thanks for letting me 
vent." (Tom Bullard)

POOF TO MR. FRIEDMAN
Re: <http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=11250>
      Mr. Friedman should schedule a visit to Pakistan and eat at the 
MickeyD's there. Navigating from http://www.mcdonalds.com, one can soon 
locate http://www.mcdonalds.com.pk which lists seven McDonald's Restaurants 
in Karachi alone. Poof! There goes Tom's Golden Arches conjecture. (Sajjad 
Lateef, Chicago)

THE PROOF IS IN THE BURGER
Re: <http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=11250>
      There is a McDonalds Pakistan. My cousin just ate there. I am willing 
to send you a digital photo. But how about this: 
http://www.mcdonalds.com.pk/main.html . (Khwajak)

MCDONALD'S IN KOSOVO
Re: <http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=11250>
      Regarding the "Golden Arches" and no countries with McDonald's going 
to war against each other: I believe Kosovo is an exception to this 
(although I generally agree with the author's sentiment). (Preston Hunt)

BRILLIAN INSIGHT
Re: <http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=11250>
      Brilliant! One of the truly original and profound pieces of 
socio-economic research that I have seen in years. (Nahum Goldmann, Ottawa)

IDIOT FRIEDMAN
Re: <http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=11250>
      Regarding Friedman and his Golden Arches Theory, I suggest you read 
"Idiot Proof" by Frank Wheen (Public Affairs, 2004), who thrashes Friedman 
on this topic and others. To quote (pg 217): "For, according to Friedman, 
no two countries that have a MacDonald's ever fight a war against each 
other. This 'Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention' (he has a real 
talent for glibly sonorous phraseology) was first propounded in his New 
York Times column on December 8, 1996, and recycled in 'The Lexus and the 
Olive Tree.' Alas! By the time the book appeared the U.S. Air Force was 
already bombing Belgrade, which had no fewer than seven branches of 
MacDonald's. Friedman then devised a cunning explanation to show that the 
Golden Arches Theory had in fact been confirmed. Why did Milosevic withdraw 
his forces from Kosovo after only seventy-eight days? Not, as everyone else 
in the world assumed, because of NATO's assault and the threat of more to 
come. The Serb leader was obliged to retreat because Belgrade was 'a modern 
European city, a majority of whose citizens wanted to be integrated with 
Europe and the globalization system... It turns out in the end the Serbs 
wanted to wait in line for burgers, not for Kosovo.' The Balkan War of 1999 
was, therefore, only a temporary exception that proved my rule.' Full marks 
for ingenuity, if nothing else." Thanks for a great newsletter! (Gerry Jones)

LIMITS
Re: <http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=11247>
      I am not at all surprised that it's been discovered that the US is 
the largest global source of spam. I believe the fundamental reason for 
this is not that we have more technology at our disposal than other 
nations. Rather, there's a serious defect in the morality of many of 
today's Americans that opens the door to this behavior. The overriding 
characteristic of our culture today is a disproportionate elevation of 
individual liberty over the good of the whole, a state of affairs 
encouraged by lawyers -- their wallets depend on an empowered aggrieved 
class -- and cultural elites who embrace moral ambivalence. Their attitude 
is, "If it makes a buck, it's all good!" The refusal to force shame upon 
those who deserve it, and even to reward them with book deals, etc., has 
spawned a generation of morally bankrupt people who see nothing wrong with 
the pursuit of money by whatever method possible, and who cares if someone 
is offended -- hey, it's "free speech"! Spam is just one manifestation of 
this. To solve the underlying problem will require a re-embracing of the 
Golden Rule and the realization that there is no such thing as individual 
liberty at the expense of the good of the majority. The starting point will 
have to be a realization that free speech has its limits, and cracking down 
on its negative manifestations. (Rick Lanser)

POETIC POPULARITY CONTEST
Re: 
<http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=honorary_subscriber&id=82 6>
      A cursory search of Google for "Road Not Taken," "Mending Wall," and 
"Stopping by Woods" shows the latter the clear winner (about 220,000 
English pages, versus about 39,500 for "Road Not Taken" and only 8,350 for 
"Mending Wall"). This is admittedly a rough first pass, but surely the 
Kennedy inaugural pushed "Stopping by Woods" to the number one spot. (Lee 
N. Marks)

BINGHAM IN THE MIST
Re: 
<http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=honorary_subscriber&id=82 5>
I could give you a little bit more info on your research of Hiram Bingham, 
and let you know that he actually wasn't looking for Machu Picchu when he 
stumbled across the "Lost City of the Incas" (thought to be a summer home 
for Inca royalty). Bingham was actually looking for the cities Vilcabamba 
and Vitcos when he set out on that misty morning of July 23, 1911.
      When we visited Machu Picchu last month, our local guide provided 
some interesting information about the Lost City -- he exemplified the 
perfect acoustic relay within the temple to display the excellence of Inca 
masonry, and he explained the Inca obsession with symbols and statues 
carved with guinea pig or fish. Too bad we weren't able to see the temple 
and other sacred buildings as Hiram originally saw them -- some inlaid with 
gold -- but somewhere between transferring the gold to the US for 
inspection and cataloging and then shipping it back to Peru, it was 
stolen... Thank you for always providing my day with thought-provoking 
materials. Keep up the great work! (C.A. Johnson)

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