Kobe Bryant Takes Trade Demands Online

On some days, Kobe Bryant says that he wants to remain a Los Angeles Laker for the rest of his playing career. On other days, Kobe wants to be traded - and he had discussed with on various radio interviews. Today, Kobe escalated the drama and posted his trade demands online:

“LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant posted a message on his Web page Sunday strongly suggesting the superstar wanted to be traded from the Lakers.”

link: Kobe posts on his Web site about rift growing between himself, Lakers

Obviously, Kobe is not happy with the Lakers. He is arguably the best individual basketball player on the planet, at the moment - and at the peak of his athletic abilities. Given that he wants to be traded from the Lakers, isn’t this the time to trade him? - It is like selling Microsoft stock when it was doing really, really well. - This may be a window of opportunity, in a business sense, to bargain for the best possible return value, in a trade for Kobe. Other superstars have been traded. It would be high drama in Los Angeles if, during the next season, the Lakers continue to be a mid-level team and to have an unhappy Kobe Bryant.

It would be fun to watch though…

link: Kobe’s Web Site

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]kobe bryant, los angeles lakers, trade, internet, drama, business, nba[/tags]

Kobe Bryant Takes Trade Demands Online

On some days, Kobe Bryant says that he wants to remain a Los Angeles Laker for the rest of his playing career. On other days, Kobe wants to be traded - and he had discussed with on various radio interviews. Today, Kobe escalated the drama and posted his trade demands online:

“LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant posted a message on his Web page Sunday strongly suggesting the superstar wanted to be traded from the Lakers.”

link: Kobe posts on his Web site about rift growing between himself, Lakers

Obviously, Kobe is not happy with the Lakers. He is arguably the best individual basketball player on the planet, at the moment - and at the peak of his athletic abilities. Given that he wants to be traded from the Lakers, isn’t this the time to trade him? - It is like selling Microsoft stock when it was doing really, really well. - This may be a window of opportunity, in a business sense, to bargain for the best possible return value, in a trade for Kobe. Other superstars have been traded. It would be high drama in Los Angeles if, during the next season, the Lakers continue to be a mid-level team and to have an unhappy Kobe Bryant.

It would be fun to watch though…

link: Kobe’s Web Site

Catherine

Intel: A Remote Control Chip

For those who have a mild anxiety attack when the computer has problems, the new Intel chips may be a prayer answered. It allows remote access to the machine for repairs, updates and administrative functions. “Intel is hoping consumers will decide that the convenience of having a round-the-clock watchdog outweighs the obvious privacy and security concerns raised by opening a new remote access channel into the PC.”

link: New Intel chips let managers turn on powered-off PCs for repairs, updates

Would you be willing to give this level of access to your computer? - Intel seems to have been sensitive to privacy / security issues. Nevertheless, if your machine is company property, you may not have any choice. It really is financially beneficial to corporations.

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]intel, chip, remote access, privacy, security, savings, the next wave[/tags]

Intel: A Remote Control Chip

For those who have a mild anxiety attack when the computer has problems, the new Intel chips may be a prayer answered. It allows remote access to the machine for repairs, updates and administrative functions. “Intel is hoping consumers will decide that the convenience of having a round-the-clock watchdog outweighs the obvious privacy and security concerns raised by opening a new remote access channel into the PC.”

link: New Intel chips let managers turn on powered-off PCs for repairs, updates

Would you be willing to give this level of access to your computer? - Intel seems to have been sensitive to privacy / security issues. Nevertheless, if your machine is company property, you may not have any choice. It really is financially beneficial to corporations.

Catherine

Walter Reed Army Medical Center: Mail Withheld

Where was this person’s moral compass? Is there a conscience there? - It seems that thousands of mail items were not delivered at Walter Reed:

“The Army said Friday that it has opened an investigation into the recent discovery of 4,500 letters and parcels — some dating to May 2006 — at Walter Reed that were never delivered to soldiers.

And it fired the contract employee who ran the mailroom.”

link: Mail sent to Walter Reed never delivered

Fired? - Whoever withheld that mail should be held criminally responsible. This is mail to service personnel, who may have needed documentation or contact from family and loved ones. Some of that mail was delayed over a year. It is doubtful that all that correspondence was ‘junk mail’. How can someone be so morally calloused to let that mail sit there?

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]walter reed army medical center, mail, criminal, soldiers, army, security, moral compass[/tags]

Broadband Internet: Reading the Fine Print

Marketing practices of broadband internet in the United Kingdom may be indicative of a trend. The advertising entices with low prices and with lures of “unlimited” use. This may be fine for the casual internet user. However, if the customer has heavy demands of the broadband connection, then there may be some unpleasant surprises. It is in the fine print of the contract:

“…all ISPs admit they will disconnect your service entirely if they feel you are downloading excessively. There are also more subtle restrictions, like putting a restriction, or cap, on the amount you are able to download during “peak hours”. These usually constitute any time between six in the morning and eleven at night, so basically any time you would actually be using the internet.”

link: Cheap broadband: unlimited aggravation

The result is that there may be additional charges for exceeding what the customer thought was “unlimited” broadband usage. - This kind of marketing practice tends to be shortsighted in the age of internet communication. People will complain about these deceptive practices and air their complaints prominently online. The reminder to the consumer is, as always: “caveat emptor” - buyer beware… and do read the fine print of the service contract.

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]broadband internet, marketing, unlimited usage, isp, service contract, disconnection, caveat emptor, advertising, fine print[/tags]

Ohio Security Breach: More Data Compromised

The news is worse in the Ohio security breach. There was more data on that “computer tape” than previously was announced:

“The latest files discovered to be missing include 2,685 records of school district and local government names and bank account information; 159,708 records of Medicaid providers and their bank account information — the state is assuming it includes all providers; and the names and account numbers of 1,031 state employees who are teachers in the State Teachers Retirement System, the governor’s office said.”

link: Strickland says additional information was on stolen storage device

Why was this not previously disclosed? Certainly, the Ohio government officials had time, prior to the public disclosure, to investigate this security breach. Are they only now, days later, discovering what was stored on that backup system? The authorities could have managed this disclosure far better if, initially, there was an indication that perhaps more sensitive data may have been breached. To make this announcement now really compounds an already delicate public relations problem.

It seems Governor Strickland is aware of this. Now the Governor has warned that perhaps more bad news is yet to come.

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]ohio, data breach, privacy, security, identity theft, governor strickland, public relations[/tags]