[Hiding Bear]

Welcome to B4 The Bell - The Bear is back!

The Full Monti:

EU Slaps Record Fine on Microsoft

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. software giant Microsoft was on Wednesday slapped with a record fine for violating European Union antitrust law and ordered to take immediate steps to stop crushing software rivals.

The EU executive said Microsoft must act within four months to change the way it does business in Europe "because the illegal behavior is still going on."

The European Commission -- the enforcer of EU competition law -- levied a record 497.2 million euros ($611.8 million) fine, ordered the unbundling of Windows Media Player within 90 days and required that "complete and accurate" information be given to rival makers of computer servers within 120 days.

The Commission characterised Windows, which runs on more than 95 percent of all personal computers, as a "near monopoly."

Microsoft spokesman Tom Brookes replied: "We believe the proposed settlement would have been better for European consumers." Settlement talks ended last week.

Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said in a statement, "Today's decision restores the conditions for fair competition in the market concerned and establishes clear principles for the future conduct of a company with such a strong dominant position."

http://www.reuters.c...t...97§ion=news

Down by the Martian Sea:

Ancient Mars Sea Could Have Sustained Life, Scientists Say

The site where a NASA robot found the first hard evidence that liquid water once existed on Mars is apparently the vestige of an ancient shoreline of a salty sea that would have been hospitable to life and capable of preserving its remains, scientists said yesterday.

A detailed chemical and geologic analysis of rock in the shallow crater where the rover has been studying the Red Planet's geology shows that the formations were shaped by gently flowing saltwater that came and went, indicating the area was probably once the coastline of an ocean, scientists said.

"We think Opportunity is now parked on what was once the shoreline of a salty sea on Mars," said Steve Squyres of Cornell University, who is leading the scientific team studying Mars.

http://www.washingto...-2004Mar23.html

NASA also discovered this news clip lying on the surface of Mars:

Mars Central Open Market Committee is Ready to Provide Liquidity as Needed

CENTRAL MARS, March 24, 2000000 BC - MCOMC Head Alan Greenazoid said that he is ready to provide liquidity to Mars as needed. " The chances of an planet-wide, water drying windstorm is about the same as getting hit by a meteor", he said. AG also dismissed claims by Dr. Stephan Stoolzak that Mars was about to experience a waterfall decline, based on his technical analysis of recent trends. Reached for comments about what AG said, the Dr. responded "Gort, Klaatu barada nikto".

Attached image(s)

• 

[Bearman]

Plunger how bout the nymex being closed yestiddy afternoon
along with mk selloff

due to teck difficulties LOL

[DrStool]

Golden Outlook

Picture Brightening For Gold Stocks

Your Golden Stool, including short and long term updated charts and price targets, is loaded. Even if you are not a goldbug, you should check out the Golden Stool. It's in your Anals daily. Take a subscribatory and download the Golden Stool RIGHT NOW!

30 Day Intro Subscribatory. Just $16.99! Get In RIGHT NOW!

[DrStool]

massive jam under way in Uncle Buck spilling into stocks. Did they catch Binny?

[OldMan]

Col Dashley, on Mar 24 2004, 08:00 AM, said:

Plunger, on Mar 24 2004, 07:27 AM, said:

Now here's a plausible story...poor maintenance has caused a section of the Iraqi oil pipeline to rupture, which not only resulted in a massive leak...but also somehow managed to catch fire.  Please remove your brain prior to reading the following, so as not to trouble yourself with exactly how this crude oil managed to cover 4 km of Iraqi desert...AND catch fire.


Iraqi oil pipeline catches fire

March 24, 2004

IRAQ'S main oil pipeline leading to the Gulf has ruptured, spilling large amounts of oil that later caught fire, officials said today.

The break in the pipeline late yesterday is believed to be due to poor maintenance, said Abed Ali Fhadil, the mayor of Faw town, near where the rupture occurred.

Associated Press Television News showed footage of spilled pools of oil on fire and large clouds of black smoke billowing into the sky.

Eyewitnesses said the spill was about 4 km long across the desert.

Oil is our Achilles’ heel. All our enemies (and the list is growing by the day) need to do is regularlly attack an oil pipeline or a refinery, and the bushman can take all his billion dollar hi tech war toys and pile them on top of each other in a scrap heep cause the west will be on its knees in 60 days flat.

I'm afraid our enemies will figure this out sooner or later ...
Then we may have a little problem with our oil-dependent civilization ... bicycling (or walking) is probably healthier anyway ...
We'll see ...

OldMan

[DrStool]

Uncle Buck Be Jammin'
As Bong Yields Collapse

Uncle Buck and the Long Bong Hit, including short and long term updated charts and price targets, is now loaded. Take a subscribatory and get the latest whiff of Uncle Buck and the Long Bong Hit.

30 Day Intro Subscribatory. Just $16.99! Get In RIGHT NOW!

[Tchaikofsky]

sleddog, on Mar 24 2004, 08:32 AM, said:

8:30am 03/24/04 
U.S. Feb. durable-goods orders soar 2.5% By Rex Nutting
WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - Demand for U.S.-made durable goods soared 2.5 percent in February, nearly reversing the downwardly revised 2.7 percent drop in January, the Commerce Department estimated Wednesday. The increase was the fourth in the past six months. Durable-goods orders are up 8 percent year-to-date. Economists were expecting an increase of 1.7 percent in February, according to the survey conducted by CBS MarketWatch. Shipments increased 0.8 percent in February after falling 1 percent in January. Orders for core capital equipment rose 1.1 percent after falling 0.3 percent in January. Transportation goods led the way in February, rising 9.9 percent after plunging 10.5 percent in January.

MarketPulse

8:38AM Stock futures fall back on mixed durable goods report ($INDU) by Mark Cotton
NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- U.S stock futures fell back after a mixed February report for durable goods orders. Dow futures fell as much as 15 points, and were last down 2 points at 10,025. Nasdaq 100 futures were last up 0.50 points at 1,372 after drifting lower on the data. Demand for U.S.-made durable goods soared 2.5 percent in February, nearly reversing the downwardly revised 2.7 percent drop in January, the Commerce Department estimated Wednesday. Economists were expecting an increase of 1.7 percent in February, according to the survey conducted by CBS MarketWatch.

8:30AM U.S. Feb. durable-goods orders soar 2.5% by Rex Nutting
WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - Demand for U.S.-made durable goods soared 2.5 percent in February, nearly reversing the downwardly revised 2.7 percent drop in January, the Commerce Department estimated Wednesday. The increase was the fourth in the past six months. Durable-goods orders are up 8 percent year-to-date. Economists were expecting an increase of 1.7 percent in February, according to the survey conducted by CBS MarketWatch. Shipments increased 0.8 percent in February after falling 1 percent in January. Orders for core capital equipment rose 1.1 percent after falling 0.3 percent in January. Transportation goods led the way in February, rising 9.9 percent after plunging 10.5 percent in January.

=============================



The wheels on this ol' wagon are getting wobblier and wobblier . . .