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Katherine's blog

Obsessions: Thin films, writing, small business, and random web flotsam

December 21, 2001

 
Drew and I put up the Christmas tree tonight. We almost didn't bother with one this year, but I'm glad we did. Grumpy and cynical as I get sometimes, there's still something magic about lights and glass baubles and the smell of fresh pine.

I've promised myself the long weekend off, so this may be my last until the 26th. Merry Christmas (or other winter holiday) to all, and to all a good night.
posted 22:53 |

December 20, 2001

 
Lam Research joined the layoff parade this week, announcing it would reduce its workforce by 12 percent, or approximately 700 people. Today and tomorrow will probably see the last reductions of the year, as few companies are willing to wear the Scrooge mantle that accompanies Christmas-week layoffs.

In other Lam news, the company also announced that it has settled all outstanding claims and counterclaims in its long-running patent infringement battle with Varian Semiconductor Associates. Lam will pay US$20 million and stock for a non-exclusive license to the disputed patents.
posted 11:43 |

 
Mainland China's ambitious plans to develop a domestic semiconductor manufacturing industry have come face to face with industry realities. NEC announced it will delay a planned 8-in. fab in Beijing for more than a year because of economic conditions.
posted 11:20 |

 
As the Fellowship of the Ring movie opens to rave reviews, it turns out that the One Ring was not in fact destroyed. It has been rediscovered on the MIT campus.
posted 09:34 |

December 18, 2001

 
Out with the old, in with the new. The list of companies dropped from the Nasdaq 100 in its annual review reads like a New Economy wall of shame. Companies added tilt heavily toward healthcare and biotechnology.
posted 19:51 |

 
Editors are close to the top of many corporate giving lists this time of year. Many thanks to both Trikon Technologies and the Flanders Foreign Investment Office for especially tasty holiday wishes.
posted 18:57 |

 
Self-employment has its advantages. Like seeing a weekday matinee show of Harry Potter in a nearly empty theater, and then going Christmas shopping at nearly empty stores. The movie was on the long side, but very well done. I got all my shopping finished, too. I got caught in the leading edge of the evening rush hour, but nothing like what it's like, say, right about now.
posted 18:49 |

December 17, 2001

 
Despite the Internet bust, e-commerce hasn't gone away. All of the potential advantages are still there, just waiting for companies to figure out how to realize them. At least one consulting firm dares to point that out, saying that B2B e-commerce could save firms trillions. No one is predicting a new boom just yet, but maybe the pendulum is starting to swing back from 2001's "Internet is dead" extreme.

By the way, I don't know what the folks at Blogger did, but I like it. Publishing is several times faster today than it's been recently. Thanks!
posted 10:59 |

 
Yes, chip market forecasts for 2002 really are all over the map. The New York Times (free registration required) summarizes the conventional wisdom, concluding that no one really knows, and no one has a good forecasting record in the space.
posted 10:45 |

 
The automation side of the manufacturing equipment business continues to consolidate, with Brooks Automation's purchase of Zygo's reticle automation unit. Brooks has also agreed to buy former archrival PRI Automation, but that deal is on hold pending antitrust review.
posted 10:34 |

December 16, 2001

 
If you're active on the Internet, you're going to get spam. I thought I'd seen every variety of spam that existed, but this is a new one. Allegedly, the author has messed up his life so badly that he's desperately seeking a time traveller to send him back to fix things. There's a good chance that it's a hoax, but it's funny enough that I don't care.
posted 15:13 |

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