The wireless industry is full of companies that were built on such wireless information technologies. But despite this, or perhaps because of it, the vision of ubiquitous wireless information never really happened. We now realize we will need to use a different approach. One fundamental challenge in realizing a wirelessly networked world is the infrastructure. We need to make sure that we have the infrastructure in place for reliable and wireless Internet connections-every time, from everywhere. Otherwise, three, four, five years from now, we’ll still only be talking to ourselves. Building infrastructure requires massive resources. Such an effort is the domain of large companies. Small companies simply cannot afford to do this.

However, while big companies are building this infrastructure, entrepreneurial companies do play a key role in the overall vision. They will be building something that large companies are not particularly good at-innovating how end users will use that new infrastructure. The two efforts are intertwined: infrastructure enables new solutions, new solutions drive demand for more infrastructure.

Before I discuss the role of entrepreneurial companies, I’d like to set the stage. Today’s Internet is what I like to call the Dilbert Internet. The knowledge worker generates most of the traffic. However, much of this traffic is not generated in the pursuit of higher productivity. Think about it. How many people in a megacorporation with more than 100,000 employees do something really useful every hour of every working day of the week?

Many are stuck in cubicles with a computer and an Internet connection, bored with their jobs and trying to find some way to pass the time. That’s where my Dilbert theory comes in.

Here’s something to ponder. When are the stock markets open? During business hours. Therefore, when is it that people are conducting the millions of online stock trades? During business hours!

I was recently driving from my home in Northern California to a speaking engagement about an hour away. On the way I was talking on my cell phone, working on a transaction with the CEO of a large company. We were cut off four times during our conversation. While this experience was not a new one, it was certainly ironic, as the conference I was headed for focused on extending the vision of wireless well beyond voice-to wireless information.

The irony continued once I arrived at the Wireless Data Forum conference facilities on the outskirts of Carmel, a quaint, but by no means remote, town near the famous Pebble Beach resorts. Suddenly, my cellular phone no longer had service. When I got onstage I asked the audience, “Who’s got coverage on their phone right now?” No one raised a hand. The response from this audience was embarrassed laughter. None of us had a wireless connection. We were all out of range. Next I asked this group of technically savvy, device-laden professionals a seemingly simple question in this age of the Internet. “Who can get me a stock quote for Excite, right now?” Again, no one volunteered an answer and, again, there were a few self-conscious laughs. There was no way for any of us to connect to the Internet in that space via wireless or wireline connections.

I made these points because I wanted us to take an honest look at what it will take to realize the vision of wireless information. The vision is to enable people-mobile knowledge workers-to go about their work from their offices, their homes, or even the beach. But in reality we still have a lot of work to do. If simple requests still pose a challenge to people who are part of the industry, how is it supposed to work for real customers?

Today, you can connect to the Internet to collect your email by plugging into the standard RJ-11 phone jack available in most offices, houses, and hotel rooms. But try finding a publicly accessible RJ-11 jack in an airport, train station, or on a city street. You can make a phone call while walking down the beach in Miami. But try doing the same thing while moving through a New York subway maze.

If we want people to be able to get information or make transactions on the Internet from anywhere, anytime, then we had better make sure that we provide the infrastructure to reliably deliver Internet access anywhere, anytime. In the real world, if someone bidding on a rare Pez candy dispenser on eBay misses notice of a higher bid on their pager because they traveled out of range, they will lose out on the opportunity and be pretty upset. While this reaction may seem overly dramatic to anyone other than an avid collector, the failure is nonetheless important to this customer. The explanation that the customer was out of range is simply not good enough.

Reliability and worldwide reach are two key factors that have driven the popularity of the Net. If we still connected as we did in 1993-an expedition that may have involved getting access to a Macintosh, downloading the NCSA (National Center for Supercomputer Applications) software, and then plugging it in and hoping-then Amazon, Yahoo!, and E*Trade would certainly not be household names. They might not even exist.

“Service learning” is generally a very good idea. Students in service volunteer in local organizations and agencies. These programs offer them opportunities to practice skills and knowledge while doing useful jobs in the community. For example, students may help build Habitat for Humanity houses, help out in a community day-care center, help organize a local tutoring program or create community gardens.

It’s true that while students do not usually earn money in service learning, it does allow them to learn more about the potential careers available to them. It also helps them make connections and network with neighborhood leaders who may assist with future jobs or recommendations for college. Service learning experience looks very good on job and college applications. Some college entrance requirements consider community work experience as important as test scores.

Service learning is not a free labor program for organizations. In fact, the organizations that participate have a number of costs involved. They must provide the mentors and supervisors to help the students on the job. They also must spend time coordinating their efforts with the school to ensure that students are learning and practicing new skills.

Overall, your children are fortunate to attend a school that has a service learning requirement as part of their coursework. Their participation gives your children an advantage for their next choices in life — for higher education and for careers. Encourage them to take advantage of the program, choose interesting service projects and add the experience to their rasums.

On Nickelodeon’s annual revenue: Reportedly more than $355 million in advertising revenue, monthly subscriber fees, and licensing and merchandising.

The basic story on Nickelodeon: TV exec who cares about her audience. Joined Nickelodeon in 1980 as a program manager, received eight promotions in the next 13 years. Pioneered the idea of using kids in developing kids’ TV. Set in place team that invented the station’s signature programming: critically acclaimed kids’ shows such as “Clarissa Explains It All,” plus the prime-time classic reruns for parents know as “Nick at Nite.” Disney’s Michael Eisner calls her a visionary, while Disney’s other Richard, said she is “capable of taking our cable business into the next millennium.”

Claim to fame: “I built a team of people and we got into the hearts and minds of kids in a very short time.”

A typical day at Nickelodeon: “The great thing about my job is there’s no typical day. I kind of make it that way. Every time we get something moving smoothly, I have to create something new.”

Strength: “I’m really interested in people. I tend to be very nurturing.”

Weakness: “I may be too nurturing, nurturing for too long.”

On her achievements: “In a lot of ways, we created the first brand on television. We’re almost like a lifestyle. Nickelodeon has a personality. If you stopped any kid on the street and asked about us (he or she) could describe us as a food or as a person. As just about anything.”

On her childhood: “I had one of the most serious childhoods ever. I used to like to write away for different countries’ travel brochures and file them alphabetically. It wasn’t until I met my husband and had kids that I started having a childhood. That’s the secret to why I did Nickelodeon.”

On computers: “Our biggest competition going forward is not television, it’s the computer. I see two-year-olds playing with them.”

On her computer skills: “I’m not that good, I’m better than some Luddites.”

What she would say to Samy Dole: “What I think is happening right now is that the networks are moving away from family friendly programming at the eight o’clock site. Central Park West has no violence but it has sex. It’s a real opportunity for our Nick at Nite programming. Our ratings keep going up.”

How life might be different if she were male: “I was allowed to do things my own way much more than I would have been if I was a man. I couldn’t possibly conform. I wasn’t like them. All I could be was me.”

On avoiding burnout: “By changing things. By trying new things. I have a really great family, I have my work, I have my friends.”

On her unusual longevity: “My people built this thing. This is our dream. There’s a lot of personal passion to it. It’s pretty compelling. It’s pretty hard not to get infected.”

While Nasdaq today actually benefits from fees paid to route and report trades through Nasdaq’s turf, Nasdaq could lose trades in the future if  gain stock exchange status from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and already, Island and Archipelago have filed for such approval. And Tradepoint has already evolved into a certified exchange, although in the United States it is not authorized to trade U.S. companies.

The success and the efficiencies of exchanges also throw into question the future role of online brokers, as exchanges permit links that are more direct and less costly. Like the New Economy flourishing in symbiosis with these exchanges, the one certain item is change. But no one knows for certain who the winners will be, and that has led market participants into a flurry of maneuvers.

“There is confusion amongst all the market participants, including the investment bankers,” says Garry. Al Berkeley, president of Nasdaq, agrees; all the market participants are “groping in the dark.”

Many factors will determine the eventual outcome of this new competitive warfare spawned by the Net, but none will be more influential than the behavior of the largest investment banks. As never before, investment banks are helping keep stock exchanges liquid by underwriting new listings, providing research to attract other investors, brokering the sale and purchase of equities and filling voids by “making markets” — buying stocks when there are no buyers. Notes Easdaq’s Pedder: “Do you think European banks will support organizations that answer to the SEC? The SEC is not known for limiting its jurisdiction. The banks control the market.”

Thus far, major investment banks are hedging their bets — making a constantly evolving round-robin of investments. Merrill Lynch, which backs Trade point, also invested in Archipelago, automated open outcry system.

Howard Barton, perhaps the most heralded of all Internet stock underwriters, also has stakes in Easdaq, Instinet, and Tradepoint. Who is head of equity syndicate, would not dismiss the prospect of investing in an ECN, but for now, the firm is focusing on acquiring a stake in Neuer Markt’s parent stock exchange, the Deutsche Borse, which is opening its ownership and which itself is zealously striving to establish a pan-European presence.

Likewise, German investment bank Deutsche Genossenschaftsbank (DG Bank), which has been an avid underwriter of Neuer Markt companies, is angling for shares of Deutsche Borse. With so many cards flying around the table of international finance these days, it’s hardly a surprise that the banks are keeping mum. Executives at Morgan Stanley would not discuss their plans. A spokesperson in London explains: “We’re playing our cards close to our chest when it comes to the future of exchanges. We have our own views, but for competitive reasons we have not aired them.”

How can I tell if she has a special talent in the area of art? And, how can I encourage her to develop her artistic talents? I don’t have any desire to push her or to try to label her “gifted.” I just want an honest opinion from an expert.

It’s quite possible that your daughter is gifted/talented. If you investigate your school thoroughly, you may find that they have programs for gifted and talented children. If you feel this may “label” her, you can try to nurture her talent in other ways.

Start by exploring the possibilities of 4H, YMCA, community college art classes for children or summer classes for talented children. Try not to schedule too many activities for her, but keep the flame of interest going throughout the year.

Create a portfolio of her work. This can be a fun project the two of you do together. Be sure the portfolio is sturdy and that it looks nice. Date every piece of work.

Finally, I strongly encourage you to make an appointment and talk to her teacher, showing her or him the portfolio. Brainstorm together for ways she can continue to develop this talent; perhaps she can help decorate the classroom or make cards for absent friends. She could even be rewarded for her other work in the classroom with time to draw what she chooses.

Continue to do what you are doing – praise her work and let her have enjoy her creations.

Seven factors
The book centers on the concept that there are seven key factors that affect how we deal with each other, and that these dimensions combine to create four basic types of corporate culture. The key factors that together form a cultural profile include: universalism vs. particularism, individualism vs. communitarianism, specific vs. diffuse, neutral vs. affective, achievement vs. ascription, time orientation, and internal vs. external. Examining universalism vs. particularism, for example, we learn that the universalist believes that what is good and right can be defined and always applies. The particularist, meanwhile, pays greater attention to the obligations of relationships and unique circumstances. Instead of assuming that the one good way must always be followed, the particularist believes that friendship has special obligations and may come first.

Four cultures
The four basic types of corporate culture these seven dimensions create are Family, Eiffel Tower, Guided Missile, and Incubator. Each illustrates the relationship of employees to their organization.

The Family
The Family is a person-oriented culture and is hierarchical in the sense that the father figure has experience and authority exceeding that of his children. The atmosphere in the Family culture greatly mimics that of home. Greece, Spain, and Japan are examples of countries with Family corporate cultures.

The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower symbolizes a hierarchical structure in which the division of labor and various roles and functions are prescribed in advance. A supervisor oversees many technicians, a manager oversees several supervisors, and so on up the corporate ladder. In this role-oriented culture, the structure is more important than the function. Australia, Germany, and Venezuela are examples of Eiffel Tower cultures.

The Guided Missile
The Guided Missile culture is a project-oriented culture (so important for the digital economy) and is more egalitarian than the Family or Eiffel Tower. The Guided Missile culture has a rationale of ends rather than the Eiffel Tower’s rationale of means. Members of this culture do not have predetermined roles, but do whatever it takes to complete a task. The United States, Norway, and Ireland are examples of Guided Missile cultures.

The Incubator
The Incubator culture is a fulfillment-oriented culture that is both personal and egalitarian. There is almost no structure and minimal hierarchy. It is a creative and intense culture acting as a sounding board for new ideas and initiatives. Canada, Denmark, and Switzerland are Incubator culture countries. Start-up firms in Silicon Valley, Calif., also typify this culture.

Deeper understanding
The reader is frequently tested throughout the book. Nearly every chapter closes with a situational question that does not have a single right or wrong answer. These thought-provoking questions resemble situations the manager may face in his or her career, and are followed by a chart of how managers from different countries answered. This interactive style helps readers understand and put into practice the concepts discussed in each chapter.

Required reading
Understanding that most cultures fall into or share characteristics of these four types allows a manager to become more effective globally. The book is an invaluable reference for anyone doing business in today’s global village, and should be a required text for all managers.

William Sears, MD., who coined the term “attachment parenting” describes this style of parentingthrough what he calls the “Seven Baby B’s”
Birth Bonding
Breastfeeding
Baby-Wearing
Bedding close to baby
Belief in the language value of a baby’s cry
Beware of baby trainers and
Balance.

A commercial industry has sprung up
“Most scientists believe that children thrive best in the context of a supportive relationship.”
- Ross A Thompson,
Professor of Psychology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

around products that vendors claim promotes parent-child attachment, but Thompson emphasizes that the products are not essential: “Most scientists believe that children thrive best in the context of a supportive relationship,” he says. “So it doesn’t matter if you’re using a particular baby carrier or playing a Mozart CD. If parents recognized how much children thrive thrive with the uninterrupted time they share with a focused adult,

New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington (see resources), and six countries.

Until recently, awareness of attachment parenting grew slowly but steadily, according to API’s Nicholson. “It’sj starting to really explode now, I believe,” she says. “There are more books coming out about attachment parenting, and the phrase is starting to catch on. People are starting to put some kind of context with those terms.”

In the Pacific Northwest, another organization was found out of Gaelen Billingsley’s desire to connect with like-minded parents and share in their attachment parenting efforts. After Billingsley found herself facilitating not just one but four local support

groups, she and several other devoted moms joined forces in 1997 to start Northwest Attachment Parenting (NAP).

Billingsley agrees with Nicholson that attachment parenting is finding followers because of its emphasis no on the tools, but on the parents’ relationship with their children.

“I spent many years plugging those tools,” says Billingsley, who is now a graduate student with the goal of becoming a family counselor. “But what it comes down to is attachment parenting is responsive parenting. It’s parenting that encourages the partners in a parent-child relationship to listen to one another and respect one another’s points of view. It’s a collaborative process.”

These are the two thermometers that are most recommended by parents for those who want to take the body temperature of an infant or a young child. These include pacifier and ear thermometers. While a pacifier thermometer is very easy to use with infants, it produces readings that aren’t very accurate. It is easily put in the child’s mouth like a typical pacifier and it gives a general reading. A temperature reading can be obtained using a digital ear thermometer by placing a small portion of the unit up against the ear. There are several different kinds designed for kids and adults.

Another type of thermometer that can be bought is one that is placed on the forehead. They are made up of a piece of plastic or film that is easily placed on the head and gives a reading of the general temperature. It’s been discovered that these units work, but they aren’t as accurate as digital versions. Ear thermometers are more accurate. A disposable thermometer is a good choice for hygienic reasons. A temperature reading can be obtained with these plastic devices by laying them on the skin. After you buy these, you can throw that piece away. As you can tell, there is a vast amount of thermometers that can be bought. If you can afford to add a digital thermometer to your home first aid kit, it provides the greatest degree of accuracy.