Investor's Business Daily articles from December 2001

Investor's Business Daily archives from December 2001

Top Stocks Have High Profit Potential.(A)(INVESTOR'S CORNER)
December 3, 2001... Byline: MONIKA TJIA Sometimes it's better to focus on the present. But don't ignore a stock's potential. Before snapping up shares, make sure profit growth estimates are rosy as well. Strong fundamentals are vital to a stock's...

GDP Fell Sharper 1.1%, Worst Since '91 Slump, On Inventory Work-Off Trade Also Hurt Q3 Results Eventually low stockpiles will lead to an output rise; Chicago purchasers glum.(A)
December 3, 2001... Byline: DONALD H. GOLD The economy shrank 1.1% in the third quarter, marking the biggest downturn in more than a decade as the recession that began last March picked up steam. The bigger-than-expected drop in gross domestic product is...

Do You Scope Out Competitors? The Best Do -- And Learn Plenty They browse rival stores, query customers, build findings into game plans.(A)(MANAGING THE SUCCESSFUL COMPANY)
December 3, 2001... Byline: KATHARINE STALTER Ted Innes likes to shop. The head of marketing at Movie Gallery, a Dothan, Ala., video retailer, routinely drops by rivals' stores. He'll look at point-of-sale displays, selection and prices and ask shoppers...

IBD'S TOP 10.(A)
December 3, 2001... U.S. Economy Shrank 1.1% In Q3 1That was the worst showing since a 2% drop in Q1 of 1991 and a revision from the 0.4% drop first reported. The trade deficit was revised higher. Inventories fell $60.1 bil, or $10 bil more than thought. But...

AFTER THE CLOSE.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... SBC COMMUNICATIONS paid the U.S. $3.5 mil for failing to meet targets related to giving rivals open access to its network. Fellow local telecom Verizon paid $841,294 for similar gaps. THE RECIPIENT OF THE first implantable heart died. The...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... MARKETS SEC allows trading data access Investors can now find out how buy and sell orders are executed and get broker data under new rules. The SEC was concerned investors often don't get the best order price and don't know what...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... ENERGY Enron collapse almost complete The energy trader will likely file for Chap. 11 soon, but former suitor Dynegy warned that won't stop it from buying Enron pipelines. Dynegy bought $1.5 bil of preferred stock in the pipelines as...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... TECHNOLOGY Microsoft loses set-top box pact Europe's No. 1 cable firm United Pan-Europe Communications canceled its deal for Microsoft's set-top software, a source said. UPC is likely to use Liberate software, despite Microsoft's stake...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... INTERNET ExciteAtHome cleared to pull plug A U.S. bankruptcy judge cleared the way for the high-speed Net service provider to turn off its service at midnight PST. AtHome will meet with cable partners to try to rework deals and prevent...

THE ECONOMY.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... Greenspan says euro isn't strong because U.S. better investment Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan says Europe's tougher regulations and labor laws make the U.S. more competitive. And markets expect better productivity gains in the U.S. He says...

IN BRIEF.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... British Telecom will start trials of e-games and music subscription services to entice customers to pay for high-speed access. Baxter Int'l will buy Canada's Autros Healthcare Solutions, which links doctors, nurses and pharmacists via...

NATION.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... Stimulus talk about the process House and Senate leaders sought to finalize a procedure for opening talks over a compromise economic stimulus plan. Talks centered on who exactly will negotiate and if any amendments could be offered. ...

WORLD.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... U.N. missile treaty vote lauded Russia welcomed a U.N. vote supporting the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty. The U.N. General Assembly voted 84-5 with 62 abstentions in favor of maintaining the 1972 U.S.-Soviet treaty. The U.S. voted no. The...

TRENDS & INNOVATIONS.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... Baby fat, adult obesity not linked Adults who were overweight in their preteen years aren't destined to a lifetime of obesity and the related health problems, U.K. researchers said in the British Medical Journal. But kids who were obese by...

TRENDS & INNOVATIONS.(TO THE POINT)
December 3, 2001... Adolescents exposed to violence may develop symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, a study of urban South African kids concluded. Mental retardation seen in the gene disorder fragile X syndrome might arise from the...

U.K. Rules Out Afghan Prison Probe.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 3, 2001... Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the British government sees no need for an inquiry into the deaths of hundreds of captured Taliban fighters at a fortress in northern Afghanistan. "This was in the middle of a terrible situation where law and...

Iran Sends Back Afghan Refugees.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 3, 2001... Iran, home to some 2 million Afghan refugees, has forcibly deported several thousand of them in recent days despite an agreement with the U.N. not to do so. Pakistan also forcibly sent about 300 refugees back to Afghanistan recently, said Yusuf...

U.N. Hopes To Avert A Food Crisis.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 3, 2001... The U.N. is "cautiously optimistic" that it may be able to deliver enough food to Afghanistan, a senior U.N. official said. "But I would not want to leave the impression that the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is resolved," cautioned Kevin...

Airport Security Firm Bowing Out.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 3, 2001... A security company blamed for lapses at Logan International Airport will end operations there next month in exchange for keeping its license to serve other Massachusetts clients. The agreement with Argenbright Security was announced Friday by...

NYC Flag Rises Over Afghanistan.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 3, 2001... U.S. troops raised a flag of New York City given to them by city firefighters over the new U.S. base in the Afghan desert Friday to honor victims of the World Trade Center attack. The flag was brought to the base by reservists from the Navy...

Canadians Seeking Lost Journalist.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 3, 2001... Two Canadian diplomats traveled to a border town to investigate the fate of a free-lance journalist detained in southern Afghanistan. The Taliban offered Friday to help find Ken Hechtman, whom the Taliban say they detained Tuesday evening in...

Turkey Is Prepared To Take Key Role To Help In Afghanistan As Muslim NATO country, it's well-equipped to handle delicate peacekeeping job.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)
December 3, 2001... Byline: PETER BENESH When peacekeepers go to Afghanistan, Turkey is ready to send the troops to lead them. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made Turkey's position plain on Nov. 1. It would be "unthinkable for Turkey to stand back in the...

Palmer At A Glance.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)
December 3, 2001... Palmer At A Glance Born: 1945 in New York City. Education: Graduated from high school. Achievements: Pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, 1965-84. Held career regular season won/loss record 268-152, a .638 winning...

LEARN TO ANALYZE DETAILS Listen To Entrepreneurs.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(IBD'S 10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS)
December 3, 2001... Byline: Amy Alexander 6 When it comes to analyzing details, it pays to hang with those whose take on the world differs from your own. Artists, for example, have long benefited from rubbing shoulders with scientists: Just look at...

Jim Palmer Sought Perfection Follow Your Passion: Hall of Fame baseball player gave his all to pitch and win.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)
December 3, 2001... Byline: MICHAEL MINK Jim Palmer didn't want to just get by. Or even just be better than average. He only wanted to be the best. To be the best, Palmer stuck to a strict practice of constant personal challenge. "I don't think you can go...

TECHBITS.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 3, 2001... Byline: Mike Angell Optical Start-Up Gets $16 Million Barry Weinbaum doesn't think big. He thinks small. He heads a start-up optical parts company called NanoOpto Corp. It just secured $16 million in its first round of venture...

Lights, Camera, Action For Digital Film Digital cinema could transform the way motion pictures are made and distributed.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 3, 2001... Byline: BRIAN DEAGON Eastman Kodak Co. is pushing a technology that could replace its estimated $1 billion in film sales to the motion picture industry -- even though it could take 10 years before the new business takes hold. Kodak is...

Cable & Wireless Looks To Expand In U.S. With Exodus Deal Paying $580 Million For Assets It's a gamble for U.K. firm since analysts see a glut of Web-hosting facilities.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 3, 2001... Byline: REINHARDT KRAUSE Cable & Wireless PLC is rolling the dice. It's wagering $580 million to get a bigger presence in the U.S. That's how much the London-based phone company has agreed to pay for most assets of Exodus...

Akamai Aiming To Ease The Flow Of Net Data, But That Goal's Elusive Profit At Least A Year Away Company has rebounded a bit, but it still faces lots of competition, questions.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 3, 2001... Byline: MURRAY COLEMAN Investors in Akamai Technologies Inc. certainly have been through the best and worst of times. Like many other tech companies, the Internet services developer profited mightily in boom times. Shortly after it...

Educational Software Looks Smart Wide Range Of Subjects Programs are tailored to various age groups, and many sell for under $40.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)(COMPUTERS MADE PLAIN)
December 3, 2001... Byline: NANCY GONDO If you wish your kids would stop wasting time on the computer and instead use it to study, you're in luck. Whether your kids are in elementary, middle or high school, there are software programs you can buy that...

Pay-For-Placement Replacing Banners Easier To Reach Target Use of paid search engine listings allows marketers clear measurement of ROI.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 3, 2001... Byline: GARY M. STERN Can pay-for-placement ads succeed where banner ads failed? While most research says banner ads have had minimal impact online, pay for placement has shown it can generate a positive return on investment. A study...

Sites Mostly Naughty, Not Nice On Mercury Interactive's List Firm tests many e-tail sites and finds that 98% need some help for the holidays.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)(Q & A)
December 3, 2001... Byline: MICHAEL KREY If you get audited this year, thank Mercury Interactive Inc. OK, that's going a bit too far. It's closer to the truth to say if your online shopping goes smoothly this year, from a technical standpoint, Mercury...

NEW-ISSUE PIPELINE Investment Firm's IPO: Lukewarm At Best.(THE NEW AMERICA)
December 3, 2001... Byline: Steve Watkins MCG Capital Corp. Arlington, Virginia 703-247-7500 mcgcapital.com Lead Underwriter: Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. Offering Price: $17 Offering Date: Nov. 29 Ticker: MCGC ...

MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES INC. Atlanta, Georgia Shift In Market Focus Keeps Tech Firm Busy.(THE NEW AMERICA)
December 3, 2001... Byline: ROBIN M. GRUGAL It's no secret that technology spending is way down these days. But companies can't afford to pinch pennies if their warehouses are in disarray, clogged with incoming and outgoing goods and customers are...

COVENTRY HEALTH CARE INC. Bethesda, Maryland Back Roads Suit Health Care Provider Just Fine.(THE NEW AMERICA)
December 3, 2001... Byline: MARILYN ALVA Like people, some companies strike out for the big city, happy they're not in Kansas anymore. Others, like Coventry Health Care Inc., prefer locales with a less frenzied pace. Nebraska, Iowa, West Virginia and,...

KEY FUND HOLDINGS.(MUTUAL FUNDS)
December 3, 2001... Key Fund Holdings / FTI Consulting and Chico's FAS were top new buys of Wasatch Small Cap Growth Fund in its latest reporting period. FTI's earnings rose 27% and 42% in the past two quarters. The stock broke into new high ground on Nov. 12, but...

Workers Trapped In Enron Stock As Execs Sell Retirement Plans Smashed Lure of stock match masks the danger of placing all of your eggs in one basket.(MUTUAL FUNDS)
December 3, 2001... Byline: KEN HOOVER Thousands of Enron employees stuffed their retirement funds with company shares this year with the company's encouragement while Enron's executives were heavy sellers of stock. Workers with the bulk of their 401(k)...

Suspicious Concerns.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)
December 3, 2001... Budget: The moaning in Washington about deficits seems to indicate there's a real concern about fiscal responsibility. Don't take it seriously. The storm began after Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels said he expects...

Oregon's Finest?(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)
December 3, 2001... Terrorism: Would that civil libertarians worried as much about life as they do about liberty. Such liberties mean little if you are dead. Portland's police, citing concerns from the city's civil libertarians, will not comply with a Justice...

Unhealthy Tyranny.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)
December 3, 2001... Civil Liberties: While pundits sputter about military tribunals and the rights of detainees, no one seems to care about a more sweeping power grab. As Betsy McCaughey outlined last week (Perspective, Nov. 29), states are considering...

Troika Of Terror: Victory Requires Targeting Assad, Saddam, Arafat.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(VIEWPOINT)
December 3, 2001... Byline: ANGELO CODEVILLA When the suicide pilots of Sept. 11 died, they made nonsense of the notion that terrorism is carried out by "senseless" individuals and that the solution to terrorism lies in "bringing to justice" the bombers and...

First Afghanistan, Then Iraq, Pentagon Adviser Perle Says.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(NATIONAL ISSUE)
December 3, 2001... Byline: BRIAN MITCHELL Germany warned the U.S. Wednesday against expanding the war on terrorism to Iraq and elsewhere. Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told Germany's parliament that "all European nations" would view such a move...

THE REAL MOST ACTIVE Blue Chips End Mixed; Home Builders Rally.(MAKING MONEY)
December 3, 2001... Byline: IBD STAFF The Dow finished a dull session up 0.2% Friday, but ended its string of three straight up weeks. The S&P 500 closed off less than 1 point. Volume shrank on the NYSE. 99 Cents Only Stores rose 1.44 to a new closing...

THE REAL MOST ACTIVE Nasdaq Down Friday But Up For The Week.(B)
December 3, 2001... Byline: MONIKA TJIA Chip and software firms led the Nasdaq down Friday. The index swung back and forth between positive and negative territory before closing down 0.1% on lighter volume. For the week it gained 1.4%. Possis Medical...

CHART WATCH Biotech Firm Closer To Passing Its Pivot.(B)(NASDAQ STOCKS IN THE NEWS)
December 3, 2001... Byline: Monika Tjia In June, Idec Pharmaceuticals attempted to clear a 24-week base but failed. Since then it has formed a six-month base, sitting 9% off its high. In the past nine weeks its Relative Price Strength Rating has ranged...

INVESTORS.COM CORNER.(THE SMART INVESTOR)
December 3, 2001... Each day at investors.com, the Screen Of The Day presents a list of stocks worthy of further research. But what's the best way to pare down the list? The first step is to call up the IBD Stock Checkup for each company. The various ratings...

Mutuals Can Make You A Millionaire.(THE SMART INVESTOR)(24 ESSENTIAL LESSONS)
December 3, 2001... Investor's Business Daily's founder and chairman, Bill O'Neil, has a distinctly different outlook on mutual funds compared to his views on individual stocks. Q: What do you think of mutual funds? O'Neil: Mutual funds are the best...

Early Success Sets Up Next Lesson: Check Ego.(THE SMART INVESTOR)(IBD INVESTOR PROFILE)
December 3, 2001... Byline: JONAH KERI In 1997, John Ritacca started an office pension plan for himself and his staff. Shopping for brand names, the Medford, Ore., dentist tapped six tech titans for himself and his office: Cisco Systems, Dell Computer,...

New Managers Can Spur Breakouts.(A)(INVESTOR'S CORNER)
December 4, 2001... Byline: CHRISTINA WISE Gtech Holdings' stock has climbed more than 60% since Howard Cohen took over as chief executive in March. On Oct. 26, the online lottery operator broke out of a new base and is up 15%. Its earnings have also...

Factory Outlook Rises As Purchasers' Index Regains Some Ground Below 50, Above 9-11 Lows Personal spending soars as shoppers get bargains, but incomes decline a bit.(A)
December 4, 2001... Byline: DONALD H. GOLD The National Association of Purchasing Management's closely watched index of manufacturing rose to 44.5 in November from October's 39.8, a sign that factories' long recession may be ending. Meanwhile, personal...

While U.S. Dickers On Stimulus, States Face Big Budget Squeeze Their outlays grew 7.5% a year in late '90s, easily topping worker salaries.(A)
December 4, 2001... Byline: CLAIRE MENCKE While federal officials dicker over the details of a stimulus plan for the economy, state officials are grappling with a bigger problem. For the first time in a decade, they're facing big cash shortfalls. After a...

IBD'S TOP 10.(A)
December 4, 2001... Key Factory Gauge Rose In Nov. 1The national purchasing manager's index rose to 44.5 in Nov. from Oct.'s 39.8, a sign the long factory recession may be ending. It was the index's 16th straight month below 50, signifying decline, but much...

AFTER THE CLOSE.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... SYNOPSYS, a chip design software firm, will pay $769 mil for Avant. It'll pay $20.54 a share based on Monday's close, an 88% premium. Synopsys dived and Avant surged after hours. R.J. REYNOLDS raised by $20 mil to $354 mil its cash offer...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... MEDICAL Cephalon to buy drug firm Lafon The biotech will buy the French firm for $450 mil cash. The deal will add 3 cents a share to $1.03 in '02 profit. But that's still a penny below views. Lafon makes the narcolepsy drug Modiodal....

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... ENERGY Enron slashes jobs after Chap. 11 The ailing energy trader will ax 4,000 jobs, or 19% of staff, mostly from its main offices in Houston. On Friday it cut 1,100 jobs in London. Enron filed for bankruptcy Sunday and sued Dynegy...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... MEDIA Time ups stake in mag marketer The magazine arm of AOL Time Warner will buy most of privately held Synapse. It markets subscriptions for consumer magazine publishers via new channels such as frequent-flier programs. Time owns...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... TECHNOLOGY Global chip sales up 2.5% in Oct. Firms sold $10.43 bil of chips, the first rise in a year, the Semiconductor Industry Association said. SIA said inventories are in line with demand, and chip prices are rising after a brutal...

THE ECONOMY.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... Argentina cheers new bank rules Argentine markets rallied sharply in thin trade as investors cautiously cheered tough new bank restrictions to stem a run on ailing banks. The government barred people from withdrawing more than $250 cash...

IN BRIEF.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... Boeing signed a $400 mil government deal to upgrade Apache helicopters for the Egyptian army. McDonald's said Jeff Kindler, a lawyer who shepherded its partner brands, including Boston Market, will leave for Pfizer. Russ Smyth will take...

NATION.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... U.S., Canada strike security deal Attorney General John Ashcroft said the U.S. and Canada agreed to tighten security on the 4,000-mile border while freeing up vital trade links. The two will share intelligence, coordinate visa policies and...

WORLD.(TO THE POINT)
December 4, 2001... Pakistan to target internal foes With a new anti-terror law and international support, Pakistan plans to crack down on Islamic and ethnic extremists responsible for killing hundreds of people here every year. The U.S., the EU and Japan are...

U.S., Canada Tighten Up Borders.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 4, 2001... Attorney General John Ashcroft said Monday the U.S. and Canada agreed to tighten security along the 4,000-mile border while freeing up trade links. Ashcroft said more enforcement officials would be deployed at key areas along the border,...

American Is Chained To Kidnapper.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 4, 2001... A Philippine Muslim guerrilla group linked to Osama bin Laden chained captive U.S. missionary Martin Burnham to one of its gunmen, making a rescue attempt risky. Burnham and his wife, Gracia (left), and a Filipina nurse have been held hostage...

American Held As Taliban Fighter.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 4, 2001... A man who fought with the Taliban and claims to be an American is in the custody of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after being discovered among captured Taliban troops and al-Qaida fighters. The man identified himself as John Walker. A Pentagon...

High U.S. Alert Through Ramadan.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 4, 2001... The Bush administration wants Americans to remain on a high state of alert at least through the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge was to make the announcement at the White House. The alert was based...

FBI Investigative Unit In Shakeup.(WORLD WAR ON TERRORISM)(NEWS BRIEFS)
December 4, 2001... Director Robert Mueller is expected to dismantle the FBI's investigative services unit, which does analysis and threat assessments. He'll redeploy its analysts to other divisions. The unit was formed under Mueller predecessor Louis Freeh....

Karlgaard At A Glance.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)
December 4, 2001... Karlgaard At A Glance Born: Aug. 16, 1946, in Rice Lake, Wis. Education: B.S. in math and physics, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. M.S. in mathematics, Michigan State University. Ph.D. in computer science and electrical...

Calvin Coolidge Kept Focus On Integrity Build On Success: Pursuit of honesty helped him ascend to the pinnacle of power one step at a time.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)
December 4, 2001... Byline: CHARLES OLIVER For Calvin Coolidge, life was all about the bottom line. But not just the financial bottom line. His bottom line included personal integrity and frugal, limited government. That approach made Coolidge, the...

FOCUS YOUR TIME AND MONEY Beyond "Good' To "Great'.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(IBD'S 10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS)
December 4, 2001... Byline: Linda Stockman-Vines 7 Ever wonder why your company achieves only mediocre results? Perhaps it's because you're focusing on being good instead of being great, says Boulder, Colo.-based researcher and author Jim Collins in his...

David Karlgaard Found A Way Strategy For Success: PEC Solutions' co-founder capitalized on his experience.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)
December 4, 2001... Byline: MIKE ANGELL Before its initial public offering and the resulting media attention, PEC Solutions Inc. had "Founder's Day." Every couple of weeks, the three founders of PEC, which builds and designs information systems for...

TECHBITS.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: Antonio A. Prado Dismal News For Fans Of Freebies After hearing warnings for years that there's no such thing as a free lunch, some might say it's ironic that economists would wait so long to charge for Web content. ...

B2B Recipe Eludes Grocers Online exchanges fail to jell for packaged goods industry.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: MURRAY COLEMAN A food fight is taking place. But it's not the sort seen in movies like "Animal House." Companies are battling to be the e-marketplace of choice for the consumer packaged goods industry, a potentially huge...

IPv6 Ready To Take Its Starring Role On Internet.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: MIKE ANGELL The really big "upgrade" taking place in the computer world today isn't a move to Windows XP or the Pentium 4. That's nothing compared with what's happening with Internet user identification. Internet protocol is...

Hewlett-Packard Seeks Slice Of Rising Server Blade Market New Products Set To Debut Makers target companies that want a low-cost way to buy powerful machines.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: MURRAY COLEMAN With or without a megamerger on its books, Hewlett-Packard Corp. is moving to capture more of the $50 billion-plus server market. The printer and computer making giant is expected Tuesday to step into the crowded...

RealNetworks Hoping To Make Music, Money With Newest Feature MusicNet Scheduled To Start AOL, EMI, Bertelsmann co-own service that lets PC users rent out songs.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: PETE BARLAS RealNetworks Inc. is taking a step toward turning the Internet into an entertainment center with a cash register, but most analysts fear it's a small step. Starting Tuesday, RealNetworks is set to be the first...

Handhelds Finally Able To Replace Laptops Adding Power, Software For average users, Palms and other handhelds can handle most everything.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)(COMPUTERS MADE PLAIN)
December 4, 2001... Byline: LYNN WALFORD If you're looking to trade your laptop for something less bulky, it's a good time to check out handheld computers. Palm-type devices are much more powerful than they were. They offer added productivity features....

After Ocular Buy, Tellabs Ready To Grow Again Targeting City Network Gear Sales of current products, which mainly handle voice, are dropping off quickly.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: MIKE ANGELL Telecom gear maker Tellabs Inc. wants to get sales and earnings growing again. So it's hitching its fortunes to a hot market: telecom equipment for city networks. Sales are slowing for Tellabs' flagship product, a...

Advertisers Are Playing Games With New Online Strategies Attracting Repeat Users Because "advergames" are branding efforts, it's tough to quantify their success.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: JENNIE L. PHIPPS Desperate to captivate customers, advertisers are trying to lure them with a favorite pastime -- computer games. Companies pushing these so-called advergames include not just high-tech and entertainment...

Air Force Planning Solo Flight For Its Web Portal Available To Authorized Users Air Force brass wanted to streamline Web operations and allow personalization.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: THOMAS YORK The Internet portal, increasingly popular in business, is joining the military. The Air Force last month said it will consolidate more than 110 Web sites into a single portal to keep its online presence in fighting...

Inventor Reveals Ginger To Be Moto-Scooter "Human Transporter' Debuts Commercial transportation is first target, but it'll be another year for consumers.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
December 4, 2001... Byline: BRIAN DEAGON After a year of guessing, Ginger is just what many expected -- an electric scooter. It doesn't fly or levitate, as some hoped. It doesn't use hydrogen fuel. You plug it in to juice up the batteries. It has two big...

Sniffer Catches Scent Of Financial Networks Bear Stearns Project Is Key Network Associates unit aiming to eliminate costly downtime for brokerages.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)(Q & A)
December 4, 2001... Byline: DONNA HOWELL When you're trading securities, network downtime can cost a fortune in lost opportunity. So it's no surprise that financial firms go to great lengths to protect themselves and their customers. Some even figure out...

A.C. MOORE ARTS & CRAFTS INC. Blackwood, New Jersey Success Here Is More Than Just Red, White & Blue.(THE NEW AMERICA)
December 4, 2001... Byline: ADELIA CELLINI LINECKER You see them in store displays and windows throughout the U.S.: red, white and blue decorations. America's current patriotic fervor hasn't just boosted the nation's morale, however. It's also boosted...

EMCOR GROUP INC. Norwalk, Connecticut Tragedy Changes Focus For Construction Outfit.(THE NEW AMERICA)
December 4, 2001... Byline: ALAN R. ELLIOTT It was a different test than the one Frank MacInnis expected. The chairman and chief executive of Emcor Group Inc. had spent years bracing his specialty construction and maintenance services firm for economic...

WEST MARINE INC. Watsonville, California Retailer Not Afraid Of Rough Economic Seas.(THE NEW AMERICA)
December 4, 2001... Byline: KIRK SHINKLE When navigating rough seas, the captain's most important duty is keeping his bearings. The same thing can be said for business at West Marine Inc. The boat supply retailer hasn't escaped the recession, but...