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To: brian h who wrote (89786)	12/10/2000 6:32:01 PM
From: anandnvi	Respond to of 152472

Brian, The analogy was an attempt to explain by metaphor what the Gore spin masters are trying to do in the name of "ascertaining the will of the people". No conclusions may be drawn regarding the education level of the electorate as opposed to test-takers, of course. Hope this makes things clearer. Anand

To: brian h who wrote (89786)	12/10/2000 6:37:28 PM
From: anandnvi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Thinking further, your observation that near-illiterate US Citizens may still vote highlights the need for improvements in our ballot system. However, the election was conducted under the auspices of the ballot system as it exists now, and so should be decided under the same auspices. Wouldnt you agree? Anand

To: brian h who wrote (89786)	12/10/2000 6:38:38 PM
From: brian h	Respond to of 152472

On Topic, Vodafone to buy 15% of Japan Telecom for $2.5bn By Michiyo Nakamoto in Tokyo and Dan Roberts in London Published: December 10 2000 21:42GMT \| Last Updated: December 10 2000 22:58GMT Vodafone has agreed to buy 15 per cent of Japan Telecom, Japan's third largest telecommunications operator, as part of a strategy to take majority control of J-Phone, JT's fast-growing mobile phone subsidiary. Vodafone would pay approximately $2.5bn (E2.9bn) in cash for the stake. The deal, expected to be announced next week, is likely to shake up the Japanese mobile phone market, which is dominated by NTT DoCoMo. It would be the second largest investment in Japan by a foreign company. The deal will give Vodafone the upper hand in its battle with British Telecommunications to take control of J-Phone. Vodafone and BT own 26 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, of the company. Japan Telecom has a 54 per cent stake in its mobile subsidiary. Vodafone is understood to have reached an agreement to acquire shares in JT held by West Japan Railway and Central Japan Railway, two of seven Japanese railway companies that founded Japan Telecom. They have a 10.2 per cent and 7.6 per cent stake, respectively. The deal would make Vodafone the joint, second-largest shareholder in JT along with BT and AT&T, which each own 15 per cent. The largest shareholder in JT is East Japan Railway, which has 15.1 per cent. In addition to having a larger stake than BT in J-Phone Communications, the mobile group's holding company, Vodafone is a big shareholder in each of the three operating companies controlled by J-Phone Communications. Vodafone hopes that by dealing directly with the railway companies it will put itself in a stronger position for separate talks with AT&T over the sale of its Japanese investments. The US telecoms group said it would dispose of the 5 per cent of its stake in Japan Telecom owned by AT&T Wireless and might sell its own stake as well. BT is also in talks with AT&T but is thought to be wary of buying the entire stake. The investment in JT will place Vodafone in a better position to challenge DoCoMo in its home market.