As a former CEO of a venture-backed technology company, it is interesting to take a look back at some of the hair-brained ideas that received millions $$$ in venture capital. In 1999, I joked with my management team that we needed to
Category: Business
College Tuition and Market Pricing
CNN reports that college tuition has risen an astonishing 40 percent since 2000… For those of you in a situation similar to mine — i.e., planning to send a child off to college in the next year or so — you
Microsoft’s $32 Billion Stock Plunge
For those of you that don’t watch the stock market or follow computer companies, I’ll give you a quick summary: Microsoft’s stock took its biggest one-day fall in more than five years Friday, shaving about $32 billion off the company’s
Are Software Vendors Trustworthy?
In an interesting article in the Sterling-Hoffman newsletter, Olin Thompson indicates that US corporations have changed their methods in buying software technology: “Buyers are skeptical of technology investments. Buyers remember late 90’s and early 2000’s when they heard a roar
Market-Driven Gasoline Prices
In a recent issue of American Spectator, R. Emmett Tyrrell, writes a lucid analysis of energy usage and oil consumption: “The world can pump 85 million barrels a day. The world consumes 30 billion annually and will thirst for more
China Harvesting Human Organs
Those of you who read my blog realize that I’m very suspicious of the Chinese (read my previous postings on the Chinese Cyber Army, China Automotive Challenge, and China Sells Stolen US Technology)… There is a new addition to the Chinese
Wall Street & High-Tech Companies
During my vacation, I read a great book from Andy Kessler entitled, “Wall Street Meat”. The author started his career as an engineer at AT&T and then spent years working as an Analyst at Wall Street investment banking firms (Paine
Apple Computer Celebrates 30th Birthday
You may not realize it, but Apple Computer is celebrating its 30th birthday. The company that brought the graphical user interface to the desktop was founded on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. It’s interesting to go back in time
China and Russia Stealing U.S. Intellectual Property
It’s interesting to note that the two Communist powers, China and Russia, were identified as the top thieves of American movies, music. and software. US sources said that Moscow should be denied World Trade Organization membership until it does more to end the
Reliable Movie Reviews
My wife and I are frequent moviegoers, and we try to research films that appeal to us before we lay down the $9 for a seat. I’ve often used the Yahoo Movie site because it provided a summary rating from the