MicroYahsoft? Merger Rumors Return

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)

Microsoft and Yahoo are once again exploring the idea of a merger in the hope that a combined company could stave off the mounting threat posed by Google. Last year, the two tech giants discussed a merger, but the talks went nowhere. What's different this time?

For one thing, Google is becoming ever more powerful. For another, the in-house efforts of both Yahoo and Microsoft's MSN have fallen flat, in comparison to the strides made by the search giant. A management reshuffling at the top of both companies could pave the way for a new merger.

Microsoft's problem has been attracting advertisers to its MSN network. Yahoo has suffered from delays in implementing its Panama search advertising system, which hasn't sufficiently closed the giant revenue gap between it and Google. The Web giant is also suffering from competition for display ad dollars, which account for about half of the company's revenue. News of the possible merger sent Yahoo shares up 16.5 percent in early trading

What is Network Marketing?

Network marketing is a business in which a direct sales and multilevel marketing builds business and cliental. It is also called Multi-level marketing (MLM). Typically, independent business owners become associated with a parent company in a contractor-like relationship.



Five Reasons Given Why People Do Not Make It In Network Marketing:


1) Inferior Company
2) Poor compensation
3) Unreliable product or service
4) Lack of leadership
5) Lack of knowledge in how to work network marketing

The Five Things I Learned Last Week

1) Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me

How can we conceivably tell friend from false friend from foe? There are times we might need to end a friendship because the friendship is more negative than positive. Friends hold great influence over us. They can entice us into activities that we may never have tried before. They encourage us to be ourselves and they support us through rough times.

However, when someone who influences us becomes spiteful and tries to influence us in negative ways, what are we to do? Should we ignore it? On some occurrences I say yes. Part of friendship is recognizing a person's bad habits and negative traits and accepting them.

But when is a negative trait nothing more than manipulation? When someone tries to manipulate our viewpoint of someone or something for they're own benefit or unknown reasons, can the damage it does to the "friendship" be fixed? On some occurrences I say no.

Everyone knows the maxim, "if they act this way, they were not truly your friends." But the result of losing a "Friend" regardless of the why is very hurtful. There are some deals with the devils that should never be considered and once the deal is made, the damage is irreversible. If you make such a deal don't be surprised that it doesn't go the way you were expecting.

People make mistakes and hopefully in the future they'll realize one day that the lie they told, the person they manipulated, the want they acted on wasn't such a clever thing to do.


The rest of the rules were all influenced by the first rule.


2) Choose your battles

Some battles are not worth fighting and will only do more damage if fought. No matter how much we may want to lash back and be right; the only thing to do is step back and walk away. This is usually the most difficult action to take and one that most people (including myself) are not able to do. But if you give the hateful reaction they want than you are only hurting yourself.

3) Know when to let go

When you come away from a person feeling more unhappy than happy, than maybe it's time to let go.

4) Truly understand why your saying good-bye

Don't say goodbye because it's the easy thing to do.

5) Have the courage to be yourself

I use to measure my self-worth by some-one else's ruler, not my own. I've learned to look past other people's expectations and judge myself by my own. I'm still learning to be my own story with all the twists and turns that any "good" story has.

Summer clothing NOT list

According to a recent Monster sponsored survey, the top clothing items not to wear at the office include tank tops and flip-flops. Other ‘biggest fashion faux’ included

• Hawaiian prints
• Shorts
• Shirts or pants that show underwear such as bra straps.

"If you want more responsibility and more autonomy, you're going to be taken more seriously if you're dressing appropriately," said Norma Gaffin, director of content at Monster.

The results of the survey were based on 18,178 votes cast by Monster users from March 23 to April 2.

Microsoft may get bit by Linux

As always, this is written from the view as a consumer and not that of a computer knowledgeable geek. If I haven’t introduced my self-depicted title yet…



I’m SierraNightTide and I’m a geekhag. If you’re offended by that title, you’re not a geek. But that’s okay, because this isn‘t about me, it about Linux finally receiving the recognition it deserves outside the technology consumer enhanced community. Brand loyalty is a cutthroat maneuver to ensure company’s products are seen, heard and bought and companies are finally listening to what customers want.

Unless you had your mouse pointing the wrong way and figured this out through Tech Support than I can safely assume you have at least heard of Linux.

Linux Summary.

Much like Linus from the comic strip Peanuts, Linus Torvalds, a Finland Unversity student created a simplified computer operating system based on Unix. With additional assistance from a variety of sources including Richard Stallman of The Free Software Foundation, he spent several weeks in his room and rarely leaving it (true fact) developing and fine-tuning the system. Linux is available for anyone to use, modify, and redistribute freely and many developers and programmers love it because they can go in and make changes more easily than with a commercial program such as Microsoft.

Note: Servers (Computers that share resources (applications, files, etc.) with other computers (ie, clients) on a network. )

It’s said that servers are where Linux has really shown their value. Large servers are expensive because that is where all of your information is held. In other words if your computer crashes (dies) you still have recent copies of documents saved on the Server. For a small business or even a “work at home” entrepreneur the start up and set up costs is a mighty bite. Even though people have come to realize that they can use a spare desktop as a server, and have saved thousands and even millions, it’s a delicate system that only people who know what they’re doing (most of the time) should look at let alone make any changes.

I have no doubt that there are numerous additional reasons I could name why Linux is better, but I would need a IT Degree and about 300 hours of computer programming frustrations. What is happening though is that companies are now unfolding their arms in brat like fashion and realizing that people want Linux. Comparing Linux to Windows

Sun Microsystems gave in and offered single processor desktop computers a Linux OS back in 2003 and IBM made a huge investment into Linux as well. Earlier this year Dell the No. 2 computer maker introduced IdeaStorm where customers told Dell what they want. The most popular customer offered request was that Dell should offer pre-installed Linux on their computers. So many people agreed and supported this idea that on March 28th Dell confirmed that they will offer the Linux OS option.

On DesktopLinux confirmed that Ubuntu 7.04 has been selected. New machines will start shipping by the end of May and will cost approximately $408 for an e-series box without a monitor. In addition, Four XPS (Xtreme Performance System) machines will also have the option of pre-installed Linux, as will three e-series laptops.

For the average consumer Linux is better because it is more stable, it requires less computer resources, is said to have more security in prevention of viruses and your computer is less likely to crash. All of which are common complaints among the average computer user.

What will be interesting to watch for is how will the competition respond? If you’re a geek or a geekhag like me how will Microsoft compete with Dell? Will Dell be a challenge and do any real damage to MS? Pre-installed Linux (and non-installed Windows) is going to hit them where the sun doesn’t shine. If Dell and Ubuntu can convince consumers that Open Office can be a ‘just as good’ substitute for MS Office, it can't be good for Microsoft.



Resistance Is Futile

From: Around The Net

Google Won't Back Down In Viacom Suit
The New York Times

For the first time in months, defendant Google has gone public about its pending $1 billion lawsuit against Viacom. Michael Kwun, Google's managing counsel for litigation, spoke with reporters after the lawsuit was officially filed Monday, insisting that the Web giant would not back down--meaning no out of court settlement. Google seeks to have the case dismissed on the grounds that YouTube, the Google company cited in the suit, hasn't broken any law.

Google's defense relies heavily on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, which grants sites that allow users to post material immunity from copyright infringement, provided those sites remove content promptly at the behest of the owner. In its filing, Google claimed that the 1998 law already balances the rights of copyright holders and Web hosting providers, adding that "Viacom's complaint threatens the way hundreds of millions of people legitimately exchange information, news, entertainment, and political and artistic expression."

Viacom contends that Google deliberately looks the other way as consumers upload copyrighted content. It contends that YouTube doesn't qualify for safe harbor under the DMCA, because the company knows its users are uploading copyrighted content and profits from it. Viacom adds that Google has the means to implement safeguards but has decided not to. Earlier in the year, the media giant asked YouTube to remove more than 100,000 Viacom clips. - Read the whole story...

What is Animation Marketing?

Barbie’s Girls Is Just Anther Bratz

Barbie has logged on and going social.

Mattel (MAT, news, msgs) unveiled what they’re hoping will be the newest Barbie craze a connection to the Web with a site called, BarbieGirls.com. According to the MSN article, “Mattel is hoping that Barbie Girls will reinvigorate the brand and serve as a case study in how a 1950s-era business finds its place in the Digital Age.”

Interpretation: They’re hoping to make millions from the digital cyber world of plugged in youth.

Since July 14, the El Segundo, Calif., toy maker's stock, an idler for much of the past six years, has surged 80%. Analyst believe Mattel overall is doing a better job connecting with tech-savvy kids. Top sellers last year included a $40 Elmo that wriggled across the floor and a $70 digital camera for tots.

The combination of online and offline play is becoming the hottest trend in toys. The most visible example is Webkinz, from privately held Canadian toy maker Ganz. The $11 stuffed animals’ come with distinctive pass codes that give kids one year of access to a site where they can play games and chat with friends. Ganz says it has sold more than 1.5 million of the critters since their introduction two years ago.

The latest Barbie isn't a doll but a 4½-inch-long gadget that attaches to a PC via a docking station and USB port. When the device goes on sale in July, it will be the only way kids can fully interact with BarbieGirls.com.

Clearly, Mattel hopes to borrow a page from the online video games, social networking sites and instant messaging services that are so popular with today's kids. The company has run a Barbie.com site for a decade. Its mix of games, video clips and product info makes it one of the more popular online destinations for girls, according to comScore, which measures Internet use and consumers’ online behavior.

The majority are 6 to 11 years old, many of them former doll buyers who are now likely to say they're embarrassed to play with a plastic princess. On the other hand, more than half of American 6-to-11-year-olds have gone online in the past 30 days, says Mediamark Research.

In this virtual world, girls will create a character they can name, dress and customize by skin tone, hairstyle and expression. They'll shop for clothes and furniture in a virtual mall, using "B-bucks" earned by playing games and watching product promotion videos. Security software will monitor the exchanges and prevent them from giving out names, addresses or phone numbers that could end up in the hands of predators.