$50 Million Gambit Pays Off, SAP CEO says
The News Review:
- $50 Million Gambit Pays Off, SAP CEO says
- For Catherine, art symbolized power
- Howard’s ‘wolf’ whistle
- S is for sumptuous
- Putting on perfect pentathlon.
$50 Million Gambit Pays Off, SAP CEO says
InformationWeek – Nov 9, 2005
At the beginning of 2003, SAP had 44% of the market versus 14% for Oracle. Kagermann, characterizing software as the “lifeline of business,” pointed out that for the first nine months of 2005, SAP’s software revenue has grown by 18% as compared with a 7% decline for the rest of the market. The CEO suggested that SAP isn’t about to radically change its growth strategy, which emphasizes home-grown development of new products and strategic partnerships with key IT vendors and service providers rather than major acquisitions a la Oracle’s purchase of PeopleSoft. He says SAP will continue to shop for niche software companies to acquire which offer products that complement SAP’s existing products and skills. Kagermann also said SAP will explore new ways to price SAP products and services, specifically saying he likes the utility-computing model in which customers pay for the products and services only when used. But he said he’s hesitant on imposing that pricing structure anytime soon because most customers have a hard time figuring out how best to budget for it. He also said the company places more importance on growing market share than in increasing margins, adding that margins will grow as SAP products gain more acceptance by customers.
For Catherine, art symbolized power
Christian Science Monitor – Nov 9, 2005
She imported art to invest Russia with greater cultural status. Although German-born, she was a Russian nationalist, greatly encouraging Russia’s sense of its own identity. She also collected art from abroad as an example to home-grown artists and architects and as a challenge to manufactories of decorative artifacts, such as tapestries and porcelain. She used advisers such as Diderot and Voltaire, significant thinkers of the French Enlightenment, to develop her collections – though she did not always agree with them. Nathalie Bondil concludes her catalog essay about the empress’s taste by saying: “Catherine II may have had little taste, but she did have single-mindedness. Like many monarchs – particularly ones who started out as usurpers – she understood the power of portraiture to establish her magnificence and importance. She was crowned three months after a coup in which her husband had been deposed and murdered.
Howard’s ‘wolf’ whistle
The Age – Nov 9, 2005
The raids just added strengthto his arm. Still, at yesterday’s meeting, some MPs argued againstthis position, and it was observed that the raids showed there wasplenty of available power without the proposed law. The operation gives flesh to the warning in ASIO’s recent reportabout home-grown terrorism, which presents a community with themost complicated challenges. It makes both more necessary and moredifficult protecting civil liberties and emphasising to themainstream Muslim community that it is a valued and appreciatedpart of the Australian nation. The counter-terrorism legislation has been improved by statesand the back bench, but more should be done after next week’sSenate inquiry. The climate, however, won’t be conducive. Federal and state police are praising assistance they havereceived from the mainstream Muslim community.
S is for sumptuous
The Age – Nov 9, 2005
The grille is bigger and more imposing, partly tosuit what is a slightly larger car than the one it replaces, butalso to address the taller bonnet designed to meet incomingpedestrian-impact regulations. Even in its short-wheelbase guise, there’s some serious lengthto the S-Class. At more than five metres long, it’s almost 20centimetres longer than our home-grown Falcons or Commodores. Stepup to the long-wheelbase model and the length stretches to 5. 2metres, with the extra 130 mm behind the rear doors. Bulging wheel arches, more angular headlights and Maybachesquetail lights complete what is a dominating look. Inside, opulence continues with the usual lashings of leatherand wood in a more elegant cabin.
Putting on perfect pentathlon.
Free with registration – Europe Intelligence Wire – AccessMyLibrary.com – Nov 9, 2005
Competitors from as far afield as Devon and Hampshire travelled north to compete in the Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain Yorkshire Pentathlon – and pronounced it a resounding success. Many experienced Pony Club Tetrathletes and Modern Pentathletes of all ages took part. And for some of our home-grown youngsters it was a chance to have a go at their first full pentathlon. All were impressed with the organisation of Ann Marshall and her team, and what visitors called the warm Yorkshire welcome and the "fun and friendly" atmosphere. One visitor was even moved to comment: "Thank you for letting a southerner take part in your competition. I hope our region will follow your example one day. " A second returned south armed with the property pages of the Yorkshire Post.