For O’s Markakis, Struggles Lead to Success
The News Review:
- For O’s Markakis, Struggles Lead to Success
- a security hole big enough for a battleship
- RedHerring.com — The Business of Technology
- Ruddock shies from terror estimates
- Run-Up in Home Values Runs Down in Fairfax
For O’s Markakis, Struggles Lead to Success
Washington Post – Feb 27, 2007
“When we really challenged him,” Duquette said, “he always took his game to another level. “Markakis, 23, is one year removed from a spring training that established him as one of the most respected young hitters in the game. 291 with 16 home runs last year, enters the season as an established major leaguer and the heir apparent to Cal Ripken Jr. as the franchise’s next home-grown franchise player. “Yes, he’s a unique talent,” Crowley said. “These types of guys don’t come along that often, especially personality-wise and attitude-wise and early maturity.
a security hole big enough for a battleship
InfoWorld – Feb 27, 2007
Business had been expanding rapidly, and our home-grown call system was overwhelmed. We took bids from all the big telephony vendors for turn-key call centers, but in the end the top brass decided that it would be cheaper if we rolled our own. I had some experience with programming IVR (interactive voice-response technology), so I was put in charge of writing the code that connected customers with associates working in specific departments. Callers would get a voicemail menu, and they’d press a button on their phones to choose the department they needed to reach. The IVR would look up the phone number, call the sales associate’s cell phone on the retail floor, and connect the two lines when the associate picked up.
RedHerring.com — The Business of Technology
Red Herring – Feb 27, 2007
India has about 125 companies doing design, including multinationals, domestic companies such as Wipro and Sasken, and a handful of Silicon Valley startups with Indian research and development centers. In 2005, giant multinationals like Texas Instruments, Intel, Cypress, Infineon, and STMicroelectronics comprised about 70 percent of the total semiconductor design industry in India. Approximately 30 percent was produced by home-grown companies, noted the research firm iSuppli. All of them stand to benefit if nearby manufacturing becomes possible. India“So far we were after the low-hanging fruit of design,” said Mr. “Now we’re gearing up to compete with the best in the world.
Ruddock shies from terror estimates
The Age – Feb 27, 2007
Mr Ruddock expressed surprise at the admission of Britishsecurity agencies that they faced 2000 would-be terrorists, andthat about 200 terror plots had been hatched since the July 2005London bombings. A British intelligence report said the scale of al-Qaeda’sambitions in Britain was even greater than previously believed. “I don’t put numbers on it, not even to the numbers of people webelieve may have trained overseas,” Mr Ruddock told a nationalsecurity conference in Sydney, even as he simultaneously warnedthat Australians could be lulled into a false sense ofsecurity. London Police deputy commander Paul Stephenson, however, saidthat the magnitude of the threat to Britain was so great that asometimes sceptical public had to be informed of the danger itfaced.
Run-Up in Home Values Runs Down in Fairfax
Washington Post – Feb 27, 2007
correction {margin-top:8px;padding-top:10px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #CCCCCC;padding-bottom:10px;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;}. correction strong {color:#CC0000;text-transform:uppercase;}Run-Up in Home Values Runs Down in FairfaxBy Bill TurqueWashington Post Staff WriterTuesday, February 27, 2007; A01A six-year run of double-digit percentage increases in Fairfax County home assessments came to an abrupt end yesterday, as notices mailed to taxpayers showed that their properties have lost value for the first time since 1998. The good news for county residents is that their property tax bills, which have grown 89 percent since 2001, are also likely to show an actual, if modest, decline. Under the budget proposed yesterday by County Executive Anthony H. Griffin, the tax on a home worth $542,744 — now the average value of all residential property in Fairfax — would be $4,830, $16 less than in the current fiscal year. The drop in assessments was minuscule — about three-tenths of 1 percent — but is further evidence of a dramatic softening of the regional housing market in the past year. It also means less money for a county government dependent on property taxes for nearly 60 percent of its operating budget… It also means less money for a county government dependent on property taxes for nearly 60 percent of its operating budget. Fairfax’s falling assessments are consistent with declines reported by other Northern Virginia localities in recent weeks. In Loudoun County, the average assessed value of a single-family home dropped 7. Preliminary estimates show a 4 percent drop in Prince William County. Arlington County housing values are down eight-tenths of a percent, and Alexandria’s average fell about 3 percent. Maryland and the District will continue riding the wave of robust increases in value.