Do High Tech Acquisitions Make Sense?

Copyright 2006 PJM Consulting

I was reading recently about the proposed merger between StorageTek and Sun. Two major technology companies, one making a comeback from bankruptcy and the other mired in a long slump, with several years of negative predictions about their business prospects.

I am not an insider and dont know the specific details of this merger. It seems to make at least some sense, as Sun has not historically been strong in Storage, which is StorageTeks forte. Sun has been Private Labeling storage systems from a company here in San Diego for the past several years (probably doesnt bode well for that supplier!). So having Storage Technology in-house could be a big plus for Sun. The analysts have generally panned this deal, however. They dont think it does anything to reignite Suns growth, which is what theyre looking for. I dont have enough solid knowledge of the situation to decide whether its a good idea from a strategic perspective or not.

What I do know is that it probably will fail.

ODDS AGAINST IT

Predicting failure is a pretty big statement for someone with limited knowledge of the specifics of the deal. But I can make that statement

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Let’s Get The NASCAR Party Started: The Engines Are Ready To Rev It Up!

Lets get this party started; the Engines are ready to rev it up! NASCAR is in full swing now, which means its time to get the grills out and the campers ready. Why is this year going to offer more than last season? Whats in store for NASCAR fans? This year should be a memorable one for enthusiasts across the nation as drivers compete for the Nextel Cup.

This is the second year NASCAR is using a new point system, which allows drivers to position themselves for a final push down the stretch. Last year, due to the new point system many of NASCARs top drivers were left out of the point chase, but with a year under their belts, more drivers will know what it takes to win the Cup. Considering that only the top-ten drivers have a chance at the Nextel Cup, theres not much room for error. Drivers have to make sure each race counts in order to ensure they are not left in the infield at the end of the season.

Most of the drivers and fans are unsure if they like the new point system; year two will give them a better idea of

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Luggage Warranty Woes

You’ve just purchased new luggage for your vacation. It came with a warranty. What exactly does that mean?
Do warranties vary from state to state? Does the place of purchase have any effect on the warranty? Will they do the warranty repairs?

It is, of course, important to read the warranty. They differ from manufacturer to manufacturer and have different meanings for different products. Save your receipt and product tags along with your proof of purchase. Many people find it helpful to save the carton also, in case the luggage has to be sent to a repair facility or back to the manufacturer for repair. Most of the warranties do not cover ordinary wear and tear or damage by a common carrier such as the airlines or cruise ships. Many also have disclaimers against abuse or mishandling. Additionally, all external parts are vulnerable to damage on any luggage. Leather, moving parts and wheels for example will show wear with ordinary use and may need to be refurbished or replaced. This will not always be covered by the warranty. Many airlines and cruise lines also have disclaimers against claims for external parts. They may not pay for wheels

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Are your eating habits healthy?

Healthy eating is one of those things that everyone wants to do, but no-one is quite sure how to. Food companies all want you to believe that all you have to do to be healthy is buy whatever youre selling, and people will pay high prices for health in a bottle type products. The reality of healthy eating, however, is much more complicated than that.

The key to healthy eating is one little word: balance. You need to balance all the different food groups in your diet (thats diet as in things you eat, not diet as in weight loss). That means carbohydrates, fats and proteins should all feature equally in each meal you eat. Start paying attention to the backs of labels, where it should be clearly marked how much of each nutrient your food contains, and steer clear of foods that are very high in any one thing unless you are planning to mix them with something else to make a meal.

The average person eats too much carbohydrate (in the form of sugar and pasta) and fat (unhealthy snacks), but nowhere near enough protein. If you want to balance your diet, in most cases, the first

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AMC, University of Colorado Cancer Centers Merge

The AMC Cancer Research Center has merged with the University of Colorado Cancer Center, a step designed to help both organizations in their efforts to fight the disease.

The AMC, a nonprofit research institute located in Lakewood, Colo., will continue as an independent foundation devoted to financial support for research in cancer causation, prevention and control at the University of Colorado.

The merger also is designed to help increase philanthropic community support for cancer research, according to Dr. Al Marcus, interim scientific director at AMC.

“Combining efforts with the university makes both organizations stronger,” says Marcus. “Not only will this enhance our ability to share research approaches and resources, but it will increase grant funding and fundraising opportunities as well. The relocation will facilitate collaborations and provide access to the state-of-the-art facilities.”

AMC was originally founded as the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society in 1904, a charitable hospital and research center that treated patients with tuberculosis. In the 1950s, when that disease was brought under control, the society changed its name to the American Medical Center and directed its sizable resources to the treatment and research of cancer.

Until 1989, AMC was a hospital as

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Infants and Acid Reflux

Infant acid reflux is quite common. People of all ages, especially infants because they consume only liquids or soft foods, suffer from mild heartburn or acidic regurgitation on occasion. As in adult cases, infants experience acid reflux when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is relaxed. The LES acts as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. It opens up to allow food into the stomach and then closes in order to protect the esophagus and other organs from acidic reflux. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine if an infant has developed a chronic form of heartburn called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

In order to determine if an infant has a chronic form of heartburn (GERD) you should consult your pediatrician. Look for clues such as sleeping problems, coughing, weight loss, lack of appetite, spitting up frequently, and apnea. Acid reflux disease can cause respiratory problems including pneumonia, strictures and ulcerations on the esophageal wall, and malnourishment. Infant acid reflux symptoms usually include recurrent coughing, bad breath, spitting up frequently, unusual irritability and crying, chest pain, and sore throat.

There are several causes of acid reflux in infants. Many of the causes are exacerbated by the fact

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How To Diet For Lean Muscle Gains – Focus On Vegetables And High-Protein Foods

If you are wondering how to diet for lean muscle gains, the most important thing that you should keep in mind is that you should reduce your intake of fatty foods. This is not possible to do entirely, but if you are eating a lot of highly fatty foods, you should reduce them to be no more than 20% of your daily caloric intake. We also recommend that you limit your selection to healthy unsaturated fats. It is also interesting to note that people who severely restrict their fat intake (below the 20% mark) will not look healthy; their hair will be brittle, their skin will be dry and they tend to have terrible mood swings and be very ill-tempered.

You should also cut out any empty carbohydrates as well – for instance, foods that are very high in sugar but lack nutrients, such as cookies, candy bars and other highly processed foods. This will make you feel more healthy overall, give you more energy and it will also enable you to get the nutrients that you will need to build muscle.

We recommend that you keep a food diary for one week and then review your typical caloric

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Ironman Triathlon-Run Equipment Choices

There are several run-equipment choices I feel can help you quite a lot in your quest for your first Ironman Trathlon finisher medal.

SHOES- Of course well fitting shoes are a priority. I’ve tried every sort of shoe you can imagine over the years and have come to this conclusion:

You can train just as well and stay just as injury free in $50 shoes as you can in $150 dollar shoes. For instance, what if an outlet has a brand new 2005 model shoe on sale for $69, and sells the new, improved (same shoe) 2006 model for $149. Does that mean the older model was no good and will hurt your feet. Of course not! In order to stay competetive, manufacturers have to continually make small changes and/or improvements in their product to stay in step with the competition.

The change from one year to the next may just be in the color, or new lacing system or a bit more build-up in some part of the shoe. Sometimes the change is really small.

Just shop around. See whats out there and in your training try several different types of shoes and when you find the one

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Automotive Detailing: How to Clean Automotive Upholstery

Maintaining or restoring the looks-like-new condition of their automobiles is a consuming interest for most car owners. Most owners are interested in preserving their investment, and in enjoying the full use of their vehicle as long as possible. Other owners are interested in restoring a vehicle to the best condition possible in order to sell it or get a good trade-in value. Still others are attempting to restore a vehicle as a hobby, joining the many proud owners of classic and antique vehicles. These consumers want quality automotive cleaning products that will enable them to refurbish their autos quickly, with as little effort as possible. One particular problem, especially with older vehicles, is how to clean automotive upholstery. Is it different from furniture upholstery? Can the upholstery be cleaned in place or must it be removed? Is it necessary to use products that are uniquely for these interior automotive fabrics?

Even new vehicles can become soiled. A misplaced cup of coffee, a forgotten and melted crayon, a wad of gum tracked into the car on the drivers shoe, or a sick puppy can present a daunting cleaning problem. If the problem was neglected when it was fresh,

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Get Blog Jobs – Fun And Profitable If You Love Blogging

Do you blog?? I hope you do, because blogging can do a lot for your freelance writing career. For a writer, blogs are not only an instant-publishing tool, they’re also an opportunity to find great writing jobs.

Blogs are a phenomenon. Although many “A-list” bloggers have been publishing for years and have built up strong audiences, it’s only in the past couple of years that blogs have become mainstream.

Let’s get definitions out of the way. What’s a blog?? A blog is just a Web site in which the site’s pages are (usually) published in chronological order. Blogs are based on templates, and have a simple navigational structure, based on chronology, and on categories.

The major benefit of a blog is that it’s instant. If I want to post a message to a blog, I can do it in seconds. Contrast the “instant” nature of a blog with publishing in a newspaper or a magazine. The other major benefit of a blog is that it can be free.

How to Get a Blog Job

Top blogs are usually written by a group, rather than by a single individual, because high-traffic blogs are updated several

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