On the Worldwide Web
Dogs of war mercenariesstill barking
By Chris H. Sieroty,
UPI Technology Correspondent
HOUSE BILL TARGETS ELECTRONICWASTE
Rep. Mike Thompson has introduced a billintended to address the increasing volumes of obsolete computers.
The Computer Hazardous-Waste InfrastructureProgram Act would require the Environmental Protection Agencyto administer a grant program to help establish computer recyclingacross the United States. The program would be funded by a feeof up to $10 on all retail sales of desktop and laptop PCs andcomputer monitors. "We can't afford to continue endangeringour health and our environment and filling our landfills by ignoringthe problems created by computer waste," said Thompson, D-Calif.,in a statement. The bill is the first such legislation to be introducedon the federal level. Experts estimate more than 41 million personalcomputers will become obsolete in the U.S. this year. The electronicwaste generated from this trash contains hazardous materials includinglead, mercury and PVC plastics. "Seventy-five percent ofobsolete computers are in storage awaiting dispos! al," Thompsonsaid. "It's an e-waste nightmare." In an effort to staveoff both federal and state legislation regulating the disposalof e-waste,
The Electronic Industries Alliance, a tradegroup, has set up a grant program to study the disposal of householdelectronics.
SLATE NAMES NEW PUBLISHER
A one-time producer for CNN's "LarryKing Live" was named publisher of Microsoft's Slate.com.Cyrus Krohn had been associate publisher at the online magazinesince February 1999. The move comes about three months after Slatenamed a new editor in the wake of the resignation of its founder,Michael Kinsley. Krohn also worked in the White House for VicePresident Dan Quayle in the Office of Administration and SpecialProjects from 1991-92.
"From its beginning, Slate has benefitedfrom the advantage of talented leadership, and I consider it myjob going forward to build on this successful business model,"Krohn said in a statement.
M&A ACTIVITY INCREASESSLIGHTLY IN 2ND QTR
Merger and acquisition activity increasedslightly in the second quarter of 2002 over the first quarter,according to a survey by VentureWire. A total of 172 deals wereannounced in the three months ended June 30, involving at leastone venture-backed company. This was a small increase over thefirst quarter, when 166 deals were announced, but significantlylower than the same period a year ago, when 300 deals were announced."Nothing as spectacular as the Pfizer-Pharmacia or eBay-PayPalhit the venture scene in the second quarter," said Ken Andersen,editor of VentureWire. "But the numbers held steady and therewere signs of traditional buyers returning to the market."
Cisco Systems, which had cut back its M&Aactivity drastically in 2001, re-emerged last quarter with theacquisition of Hammerhead Networks of Billerica, Mass., a developerof software for the delivery of multiple IP service features.
The largest acquisition of the quarter wasonline brokerage firm Ameritrad! e Holding's bid for Datek OnlineHoldings in a stock deal worth $1.2 billion. "The majorityof M&A activity in the second quarter involved asset salesand defense mergers," Andersen said.
SURVEY: DOCTORS USE INTERNETFOR WORK
More than three-quarters of the nation'sdoctors now use the Internet and nearly half of them say it hashad a major impact on how they practice, according to a new survey.The survey, by the American Medical Association, found about one-thirdof doctors operate their own Web sites, mostly to promote theirpractices and for patient information. Of the 977 physicians interviewedfor the survey, 78 percent said they used the Internet for work.Of these, two-thirds said they go online every day, the AMA found.The organizations represents about one-third of the nation's doctors."In 2001, 65 percent of physicians 60 years of age or olderused the Web, compared with 43 percent in 2000," the AMAsaid in a statement.
WEBMETHODS 1ST QTR REVENUESFALL 14 PERCENT
Software maker webMethods Inc. said itsfirst quarter net loss narrowed but its revenues fell 14 percentas a number of key deals slipped out at the end of the quarter.For the quarter ended June 30, webMethods had a net loss of $3.1million, or 6 cents a share, compared to $19.9 million or 41 centsa share in the year-ago quarter. The Fairfax, Va., company's softwareenables businesses to stitch different computer systems together.It said revenues fell to $47.7 million from $55.4 million in theprior year. Excluding amortization of stock and warrant charges,webMethods had a loss of $2 million, or 4 cents a share, vs. aloss of $4.4 million, or 9 cents a share, last year. The resultswere in line with a financial warning issued by webMethods onJuly 5.
FAIRFAX COUNTY ENJOYSMODEST JOB GROWTH
The Fairfax County Economic DevelopmentAuthority reports 15 companies announced in June that 1,170 jobs-- most in the information technology fields -- were or will beadded to the Virginia county's economy. The companies includeseveral defense and government contractors, software and high-speednetwork providers. FCEDA spokesman Alan Fogg said typically, everynew job in the primary economy spins off about two to three jobsin the secondary economy. So far in 2002, Fairfax County has createdmore than 4,900 jobs.