Joe Markiewicz

Joe Markiewicz - Google, Microsoft and Healthcare??

I'm not really surprised by this one.  Microsoft and especially Google seem to be out on the cutting-edge in many different areas.  Now it is healthcare.  Both of these tech giants have plans to help the individual have more control over their personal healthcare and health records.  It will be a long process but it is under way...

If the efforts of the two big companies gain momentum over time, that promises to accelerate a shift in power to consumers in health care, just as Internet technology has done in other industries.

Today, about 20 percent of the nation’s patient population have computerized records — rather than paper ones — and the Bush administration has pushed the health care industry to speed up the switch to electronic formats. But these records still tend to be controlled by doctors, hospitals or insurers. A patient moves to another state, for example, but the record usually stays.

The Google and Microsoft initiatives would give much more control to individuals, a trend many health experts see as inevitable. “Patients will ultimately be the stewards of their own information,” said John D. Halamka, a doctor and the chief information officer of the Harvard Medical School.

Already the Web is allowing people to take a more activist approach to health. According to the Harris survey, 58 percent of people who look online for health information discussed what they found with their doctors in the last year.

Read the complete Joe Markiewicz Tech News article to learn more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/technology/14healthnet.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=3113f8276565e25b&ex=1344744000&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

© News feature of Joe Markiewicz blog site.

Joe Markiewicz Tech News: World’s Fastest Supercomputer

Technology is advancing so fast.  Read about this new supercomputer that IBM will be building!  It is going to be the world's fastest computer.  Until recently the world's fastest computer was in Japan...

The decision to build the machine, which will cost $200 million to build and may cost more than $400 million during its five-year lifetime, is already proving to be controversial.

The award has been eagerly pursued by a number of supercomputer centers and state governments. Word of the decision to award the contract to I.B.M. to build a production version of a computer that is now intended for the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has created widespread concern in the past week among some computer scientists involved in designing and building the nation’s high-performance computers.

The new computer is to be the first supercomputer capable of one thousand trillion mathematical operations a second — a computing benchmark known as a petaflop. Placing it in Illinois, however, has led to expressions of concern in California and Pennsylvania, where computing laboratories also bid on the contract.

The machine will become a magnet for the world’s most advanced and challenging scientific research projects. Unlike many academic research supercomputers in the United States that serve a large community of users, the supercomputer will concentrate on a handful of Grand Challenge science projects, like simulating the impact of global warming.

Read more from the Joe Markiewicz Tech News article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/technology/06ibm.html?em&ex=1186632000&en=a583b8a23832750e&ei=5087%0A

© News feature of Joe Markiewicz blog site.

Quixtar's Jody Victor - Great Thought In Couplets

Wow!  This is one awesome quote that Jody Victor shares by W.H. Murray!  It is so true what he said.  Things really start to happen when you fully commit to something.  It is a big key to success!

Jody Victor, “Martin Luther observed that every great book is an action and every great action is a book. The books that capture for us the great actions of ordinary men have influenced generations. That’s why I’m motivated to read history and biographies.”

Jody Victor & Kathy Victor – Quick Quote Favorite About Books

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in ones favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: 'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it! Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it.'"

- W.H. Murray, of the Scottish Himalayan Expedition

About Kathy Victor & Jody Victor

Jody Victor and Kathy Victor are members of independent business owner (IBO) trade association, IBOAI. Jody and Kathy Victor lead Markerman Productions Team
IBOAI, the official trade association, leadership team including Billy Florence, Jody Victor, Randy Haugen, Joe Markiewicz, Don Wilson and Jim Janz serves and protects the business interests of independent business owners, (Quixtar IBO’s ) throughout North America.

© 2007 JODY VICTOR & KATHY VICTOR. Reprint permission provided to Joe Markiewicz IBO Updates site.

Quixtar's Colombo DiSalvatore: Eating Right Is Easier

Fiber is a critical part of our daily diet.  But it can be tough to get the proper amounts.  It is especially hard when you are on the go and traveling.  This Quixtar product helps to solve this problem by providing an easy and convenient way to get more fiber in our diet whenever we need it...

Colombo DiSalvatore of IBO Trade Association (IBOAI) – An estimated one-third of Americans are starting new “diets” in 2007 and millions more are pledging to eat right, living a better lifestyle tops the “must do” list of many. “Our trade association members, (Quixtar IBOs) have what many need to achieve their healthy resolutions,” says Colombo DiSalvatore.

“We all know that eating right and exercising are keys to achieving a healthier lifestyle,” says Karen DiSalvatore. “While our intentions are good, sometimes it’s hard to get the vitamins, fiber and nutrients we need on a daily basis.” Nutrilite Invisifiber allows consumers to quickly and conveniently add fiber to their diets. An important part of a healthy diet, fiber has many health benefits, including cardiovascular and digestive health.

“Nutrilite Invisifiber is taste-free and not gritty,” says Colombo DiSalvatore. “It can be sprinkled onto foods or mixed into liquids without changing the taste or texture.” Each stick pack contains four full grams of soluble fibers and only 15 calories, and it is available exclusively through our IBOAI members, Quixtar IBO business owners in North America.

About Colombo DiSalvatore, Karen DiSalvatore and IBOAI

“The official IBO Trade Association, IBOAI is dedicated to serving and protecting the interests of Quixtar powered Independent Business Owners (IBOs) throughout North America. The 2007 IBO Board of Directors Executive Committee Team includes Jim Janz, Chairman, Don Wilson, Vice Chairman, Bob Andrews, Brad Duncan, Kanti Gala, Randy Haugen, Bill Hawkins, and Kathy Victor. Governance and Oversight Committee includes Jody Victor and Billy Florence. New members include: Orrin Woodward, Joe Markiewicz, Chris Brady, and John Merris.

© 2007 Colombo DiSalvatore & Karen DiSalvatore Amway Quixtar IBO. Reprint permission given to Joe Markiewicz IBO Updates site.

Joe Markiewicz Business News: HP Ramping Software Business

Hewlett-Packard is best known as a hardware company.  HP makes computers, printers, faxes, scanners, etc.  But they have been expanding the software side of their business.  HP's big rival, IBM has been making similar agressive moves in the software arena.  It appears HP is following suit...

HP offered $14.25 per share in cash, a 38 percent premium over the company's share price on Friday. Less Opsware's existing cash and debt, the deal is valued at $1.6 billion.

The company said the acquisition, following the $4.5 billion purchase of Mercury Interactive one year ago, is part of HP's strategy of offering a comprehensive software line for managing corporate data centers.

"The addition of Opsware is expected to enhance HP's standing as one of the world's leading software companies and drive profitable growth for HP," Ann Livermore, executive vice president of HP's Technology Solutions Group, said in a statement.

After the transaction, which is expected to be completed in HP's fourth quarter, Opsware CEO Ben Horowitz will lead HP's Business Technology Optimization organization, reporting to HP Software senior vice president Thomas Hogan.

Read more from the Joe Markiewicz Business News article:

http://www.nytimes.com/cnet/CNET_2100-1014_3-6198144.html?ei=5088&en=4f7b8b64750b4f67&ex=1342843200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185224345-rLUl2YloAiqtVSs7YUQjMQ

© News feature of Joe Markiewicz blog site.

Joe Markiewicz Business: A Good Year For Tech

2007 has been a strong year so far for the tech sector.  This week will be a big week to see how it will continue.  Some big names will be reporting earnings.  We can pretty much expect how it will turn out for these names...

The Nasdaq composite index, which is dominated by technology businesses, has risen 12 percent, comfortably outpacing the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, which hit a record high on Friday.

Some stocks have contributed more than others to the sector’s stellar performance. Whether the returns continue may become clearer this week, when two pairs of high-profile tech companies announce second-quarter earnings.

In the semiconductor area, Intel reports its results on Tuesday and Advanced Micro Devices reports on Thursday. Two rivals for supremacy in the realm of Internet searching and advertising will report on the same respective days, first Yahoo and then Google.

Tech stocks have flourished this year because they are viewed as somewhat immune from the effects of a decelerating economy, said Toan Tran, a technology analyst at Morningstar.

“People are more fearful of the economy slowing,” Mr. Tran said. “The tech names are being driven by growth in Internet advertising and consumer electronics, and they may be more resilient in a downturn.”

Read the complete Joe Markiewicz Business News article to learn more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/business/yourmoney/15mark.html?ex=1342152000&en=ab443aee369e7051&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

© News feature of Joe Markiewicz blog site.

Joe Markiewicz - The Wii Is In Hot Demand

Nintendo's Wii has been the hottest game console on the market.  It has been out selling the competition since it was introduced.  It is unique in the way you play it.  And Nintendo has even said they will be introducing a new game called Wii Fit.  It will encourage physical fitness.  To my knowledge it is the first of the big video game companies to have a game like this... 

The Wii continues to be in short supply, according to Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America. “Wii has effectively been sold out for all 33 weeks,” he said. Nevertheless, he said, Wii “is poised to become the No. 1 platform worldwide very soon.”

The Wii, which uses a hand-held motion-sensitive controller, has been a success in another way. It has attracted a significant number of older gamers, Mr. Fils-Aime said. In Wii households, he said, one in eight men over 50 regularly use the console. He said that was a first in video-game history.

“Our next challenge is to destroy the psychological barrier that separates veteran gamers from novice players,” he said.

To further broaden Wii’s appeal, in 2008 Nintendo will introduce Wii Fit, a game that encourages physical fitness. Players stand on a Wii balance board to register their body mass index, and then head-butt virtual soccer balls, twirl a virtual hula-hoop, and perfect their balance.

Mr. Fils-Aime, who would not state a price for the new package, said that the board would be used as a control device for future games as well.

Read more from the Joe Markiewicz Business News article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/business/12video.html?ex=1341892800&en=1708dd323d2fd4d3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

© News feature of Joe Markiewicz blog site.

Joe Markiewicz - Google's 3rd Biggest Purchase

Google is continuing to expand their business.  Their main focus is on search, ads and applications.  This purchase will help further their application (software) side of the business.  It is the third biggest purchase Google has made to date...

Taking further aim at one of Microsoft’s core franchises, Google said Monday that it would acquire the e-mail security and management company Postini for $625 million in cash.

The deal underscores Google’s ambitions to become a serious player in the business of selling software to companies and organizations, in competition with Microsoft and others.

Google, which earns the vast majority of its profits from selling ads it places next to search results and on sites across the Web, has increasingly emphasized its small but rapidly growing software business.

Read more from the Joe Markiewicz Business News article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/technology/10google.html?ex=1341720000&en=76c2337a318ebd5d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

© News feature of Joe Markiewicz blog site. 

Joe Markeiwicz - Billionaire Working Harder Than Ever

When most people think of a billionaire, they more than likely think of yachts and huge houses and traveling the world and things like that.  I bet most would not think of a billionaire working longer hours than the average guy.  But this billionaire is certainly doing that.  I'm sure he has his share of nice cars and houses since he is one of the richest men.  But he is still working harder than ever at his passion.

I am not advocating 18 hour work days.  But there is a lesson to be learned from this.  I don't think he is working so hard to make another billion.  I think he has a passion for what he does...

Twenty-six years ago as a Stanford University graduate student and a co-founder of Sun Microsystems, Andreas Bechtolsheim designed a simple but powerful personal computer workstation that would help define the modern technology era.

Today, at a high-performance computing conference in Dresden, Germany, he plans to introduce his newest machine: a supercomputer to be named the Sun Constellation System that will compete for the title as the world’s fastest when installation is complete this year.

“It is hard to believe that 30 years later I am still working on the same problem,” said Mr. Bechtolsheim, who is better known as Andy.

Between the milestones, Mr. Bechtolsheim, who is 51 years old, has designed a parade of computers that have continued to squeeze the most processing power or storage capacity into the smallest possible space. And, despite becoming one of the richest people in the world, he remains obsessed with designing ever more powerful computers. His new machine, which is currently being installed at the Texas Advanced Computing Center in Austin, is the latest example of his trademark elegant and simple engineering. It is set apart from other supercomputers made from tens of thousands of networked microprocessor chips by Mr. Bechtolsheim’s ability to orchestrate the range of computing disciplines that are needed to create the fastest computers.

As such, he is the leading candidate to inherit the mantle of Seymour Cray, a famous computer designer who consistently designed the world’s fastest computers from the 1960s until his death in a car accident in 1996. “He is this amazing blend of artist and engineer and that reminds me of Seymour,” said Larry Smarr, an astrophysicist and supercomputer user, who was an early customer of Sun Microsystems’ computers as director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications during the 1980s.

Mr. Bechtolsheim’s 18-hour-a-day dedication to computer design is all the more remarkable because of his wealth. He has founded three successful companies in addition to being one of Google’s first financial backers. The initial $100,000 check he wrote to the Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page is an investment now worth more than $1.5 billion.

Read more from the Joe Markiewicz Business Technology article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/technology/26sun.html?ex=1340510400&en=98235584723d5bd6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

© News feature of Joe Markiewicz blog site.

Jody Victor: Belief Is Contagious

Being hungry to learn and willing to grow and improve helps us to believe more in ourselves.  Thanks Jody & Kathy Victor for this leadership information...

Jody Victor, “People who succeed in all walks of life, be it sports, entertainment, business or parenting, benefit by improving their own self image and attempting to live up to the person of character and diligence they want to be. Entertainment has a very low success rate, one entertainer, Liberace, whose career spanned generations, explained the thinking link this way…”

A Leadership Lesson From Jody Victor and Kathy Victor

Nobody will believe in you unless you believe in yourself.
Liberace (1919-1987) Pianist

About Jody Victor & Kathy Victor and IBOAI

Kathy Victor and Jody Victor are members of IBOAI, independent business owners association international. Jody Victor is a member of the prestigious president’s cabinet for the IBO association.

IBOAI, the official trade association of Quixtar Ibo’s, serves and protects the business interests of independent business owners. Association leadership includes Brad Duncan, Don Wilson, Jim Janz Billy Florence, Jody Victor, Randy Haugen, Joe Markiewicz, Fred Harteis


© 2007 Jody and Kathy Victor Quixtar IBO. All rights reserved. Permission given to Joe Markiewicz IBO Updates site.