If they did, it would become apparent that "a merger would solve problems for both America Online and Microsoft," argues Bibb. A sale of the Internet unit would suit several camps within Time Warner and the investment community just fine. By many measures, the $158 billion merger -- the biggest in corporate history -- has been a spectacular failure. Since the deal closed, AOL Time Warner has written off $99.5 billion in goodwill, including the latest charge, and is within a whisker of violating its loan covenants. Plus, AOL Time Warner is in dire need of cash -- and Microsoft has $40 billion of that. By selling the online service, AOL Time Warner could pay down billions in debt and bolster its credit rating, which has fallen dangerously close to junk levels.

Posted by GeeTee at February 02, 2003 04:32 PM | TrackBack 0

[I enjoyed Robert's warning (http://www.politechbot.com/p-04390.html), but he's looking at "chipping" like a lawyer instead of through the lens of economics. It seems clear to me that if some manufactures sufficiently vex people by "chipping," then their customers will turn elsewhere to non-chipped products. And competitors will advertise "unchipped" alternatives, as we saw in the Yahoo case (http://www.wired.com/news/news/business/story/20568.html). It's not like there's a lack of competition in the laser printer, car, coffee maker, dishwasher, or other markets Robert cited. --Declan]

Posted by GeeTee at February 02, 2003 03:51 PM | TrackBack 0

McArthur said other countries would refuse to support the U.S. in its war plans until the Americans gave concessions in a trade battle. He said Canada, though, is intimidated by the U.S.

Posted by GeeTee at February 02, 2003 03:48 PM | TrackBack 0

There are three labels. One will say, ``This mark indicates material can be copied.'' The mark lets users copy or print material from Internet Web sites and distribute it without specific permission from the copyright holder, as long as the labeled content is not altered.

Posted by GeeTee at February 02, 2003 03:22 PM | TrackBack 0

"Saddam's weapons of mass destruction are also concealed in a tunnel complex deep beneath the sewers of Baghdad and in an underground complex in Ouja, to the north of Tikrit.
"The complex was built five years ago with help from Chinese engineers.
"The entrance to the site is through a house in Tikrit. It is the home of one of Saddam's cousins and is more than half a mile from where the weapons are stored."

Posted by GeeTee at February 02, 2003 03:14 PM | TrackBack 0

No tougher sanctions are introduced against individuals who download tracks for noncommercial use. Criminal sanctions only apply when copyright infringement is carried out intentionally and for commercial purposes, the Commission said.

Posted by GeeTee at February 02, 2003 03:01 PM | TrackBack 0

Here, it is not cream or milk that the employees of Linguagen Corp. add to their morning java, but a dash of a biological compound that fools their brain into thinking that black, bitter coffee is as smooth as a milky double latte: All the flavour, none of the calories, and the effects last only as long as it takes them to drain their mugs.

Posted by GeeTee at February 02, 2003 02:58 PM | TrackBack 0

When you buy an Animal Mercy Kit, you enable a family to purchase a sheep and increase their household income.

Posted by GeeTee at February 02, 2003 02:47 PM | TrackBack 0