Originally published September 24, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified September 24, 2007 at 2:07 AM
Download
Housing slump hits Microsoft in wallet
You know how deep the housing slump is when even Microsoft feels its weight. As Reuters noted from Friday's company proxy statement, the...
Watching video
About 75 percentof Internet users in the U.S. viewed an average of three hours of video in July, with Google by far the leading viewing site.
Source: comScore
You know how deep the housing slump is when even Microsoft feels its weight.
As Reuters noted from Friday's company proxy statement, the company, like a lot of homeowners, found itself in a position where it had to sell a house at a loss — up to a $2 million loss.
The pain came from a house once owned by Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell. When Microsoft hired Liddell in 2005, it bought Liddell's East Coast home — he lived in Connecticut — for a price based on independent appraisals, Reuters said.
The company sold the house in the past fiscal year — for what's described as a significant, unspecified loss. The amount was included in a $2 million relocation expense.
A Microsoft spokesman would not give Reuters more details, but did say the bulk of the expense consisted of the loss on the sale — proving real estate can be a lot more grinding sometimes than debugging software.
We got the gist
On the other hand, a $2 million loss pales in comparison to the rough start of the week Microsoft had when the European Court of First Instance upheld the sanctions and penalties (a $613 million fine) levied against the company for anticompetitive business practices in Europe.
Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith was still able to inject some levity into his remarks at a news conference shortly after the ruling and associated documentation was delivered.
"I have to admit that as I stand here holding this decision, I'm reminded of a line that Woody Allen once uttered.
He said, 'I have taken a course in speed reading and I read 'War and Peace' in 20 minutes. It's about Russia.'
Now we've had about two hours to read this. It has nothing to do with Russia, but it certainly has a great deal to say about the future of our company, our industry and competition law here in Europe."
View from above
The word last week came from comScore, the online measurement company, that the fastest-growing Web property last month was GodTube.com, which drew 1.7 million visitors during the month after launching Aug. 8.
"GodTube.com's success is proof positive that Jesus 2.0 is the wave of the future," Chris Wyatt, CEO and founder of the site said. " Our entire culture is becoming Internet focused. Today, people use the Internet to search for practically everything they need in life. Why not their faith?"
The Dallas-based site says it has more than 20,000 videos — 800,000 hours' worth — expressing that faith.
Sharing hoops
MyLifeBrand, the Kirkland startup that seeks to give users one place to go to manage their social networks and communications with online communities and friends, is partnering with the Utah Jazz to power the NBA team's online community.
By joining that community, Jazz fans can create their own profiles, share photos and videos, blog and message each other — just another example of how online activity has embedded itself in sports.
Meanwhile, back in Seattle, the Sonics community probably has other things than social networking on its mind. Like arena leases and out-of-town owners.
Download, a column of news bits, observations and miscellany, is gathered by The Seattle Times technology staff. We can be reached at 206-464-2265 or biztech@seattletimes.com.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
Sunday Buzz: Expedia, Intelius, Classmates slapped by Senate report
Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
UPDATE - 08:56 PM
Senate Democrats at odds over health care bill
Your Funds: Money for nothing: Some investors pay for advice they never get

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Tugboat sinks on Seattle's waterfront
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Senate vote clears hurdle
239 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
121 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
120 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
119 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
119 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
90 - Prosecutor requests life in prison for Amanda Knox
88 - Game thread
70 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
54 - Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
48
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- 175 foster kids in Washington get 'forever families'





