| Something Ventured: November 23rd, 2007
Vancouver Giants? �And I'll grow a little bigger Maybe that can be my goal, I was told a million times Of all the people in my way,
How I had to keep on trying
And get better every day�
� Queen, Keep Yourself Alive Last time, I wrote about a worrisome trend that our biggest BC technology companies were not getting bigger� They certainly are not getting bigger in aggregate since 2003 in terms of market capitalization. Some companies have done well, others have sputtered. Many of you asked me or offered your own reasons why this was happening. Some of you pointed out that overall technology employment and GDP from technology was up in that same five year period. Clearly the emerging companies and the �bought� companies working under a foreign company banner are growing here. But I wanted to tackle a more specific issue: Why can�t we grow a RIM, a Microsoft or a Google in our backyard? I offer two reasons we don�t yet have a mega-company in technology: Product Extension and Platforms. Product Extension is the process whereby a company expands its product offerings to increase its revenue and profit. Platforms are the fundamental technologies that others build on, generating better pricing and/or license revenue, because the platform is dominant in terms of market share (>66%).
Funding formula may hit tidal power
Power generated by the tides is likely to be in commercial operation in the next five years, according to the Aotearoa Wave and Tidal Energy Association - but several projects may not be ready to bid for money from a new $8 million government fund. A key criterion for funding is that the project be no more than three months away from making an application for resource consent. Another is that the project may seek only 40 per cent of the necessary capital and must demonstrate it has the other 60 per cent. John Huckerby, of the association, said he knew of 18 projects in various stages of development, but most would not be able to meet the criteria. Applications for funding close at the end of February. Yesterday, Dr Huckerby said the Government was trying to encourage marine power but was not prepared to bankroll the projects, some which were no more than an idea by a farmer tested in a stream in a back paddock.
Feds to revise immigration plan
U.S. labor, business and farm groups have convinced the White House to revise a planned crackdown on firms employing illegal immigrants.
The Bush administration has agreed to make unspecified changes to its plan to pressure employers to fire as many as 8.7 million workers with suspect Social Security numbers, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
The Bush administration Friday asked a federal judge in San Francisco to delay hearing a lawsuit brought by labor, business and agriculture until the revised plan is ready.
Those who brought the suit are not convinced, however, their objections will be met, including reducing the enormous cost of the plan to small businesses, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President Randel K. Johnson said.
"I hope they give the employer community adequate time to comment and do not just jam it through during the holidays," Johnson said, "particularly given that this regulation covers all industries, across all sectors of the
economy."
Copyright 2007 by UPI .
BookWoman fights to keep site as similar stores in U.S. close
In early November, on the same weekend Austin was celebrating two book festivals — the Texas Book Festival and the Austin Jewish Book Festival — Susan Post, the owner of Austin's BookWoman book store, quietly announced that she needed to raise $25,000 by last week if she hoped to pay off debt and keep the store open. The store would need another $25,000 by Christmas to pay for the down payment on a new lease and the installation of new store fixtures. The store, which has been located at West 12th Street and North Lamar Boulevard for the past 13 years, loses its lease Feb. 1. Post's plea wasn't ignored. Well-wishers from across the country have donated money via the store's fundraising Web site, www.savebookwoman.com, and bought books via the store's Web site. Post says she's already raised some $20,000, $5,000 of which came from a small group of anonymous supporters.
Labor makes headlines worldwide
WORD of Labor's victory in the federal election has made headlines worldwide, with many international news agencies describing it as an "end to a conservative era". The New York Times headlined a story about the election with "Australian Victory Ends a Conservative Era" on its website soon after John Howard gave his concession speech. Global broadcaster CNN posted the news online under the headline "Australia votes for change" – which was posted as the top story on its website. The BBC also featured it as its top story its international news. In the UK, the Daily Mail went with the headline "Australian Prime Minister John Howard loses government AND seat in parliament in Labor landslide" on its website. Other newspapers in the UK, including The Sun, The Times and The Guardian also ran stories on the landslide.
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