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To: Daniel Schuh who wrote (18911)	5/6/1998 12:21:00 AM
From: FJB	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24154

Warren Buffett, however, disagrees. In his recent letter to shareholders, he wrote that after Berkshire Hathaway acquires a company, it will often report higher employee compensation costs. Buffett: "Their reported costs will rise after they are bought by Berkshire if the acquiree has been granting options as part of its compensation packages. In these cases, 'earnings' of the acquiree have been overstated because they have followed the standard-but, in our view, dead wrong-accounting practice of ignoring the cost to a business of issuing options." forbes.com forbes.com

To: Daniel Schuh who wrote (18911)	5/6/1998 6:40:00 AM
From: Daniel Schuh	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 24154

Microsoft Rounds Up Allies to Defend Windows 98 nytimes.com In waggish mode, I was tempted to substitute "usual suspects" for allies above, but the hobgoblin wouldn't let me. The Times' take on events has the usual muted irony. On the stage were supporters representing a variety of industries, from disability-rights groups to giant retailers. All were there to pledge allegiance to Windows 98, and to state their reasons the government should not hold back its release. With a looming threat of legal action that would prevent the intended June 25 software debut, Gates and his allies delivered doomsday predictions. The world in flames if Microsoft doesn't get its way! "An injunction delaying Windows 98 would clearly have a negative impact on the country as a whole," warned Eckhard Pfeiffer, president and chief executive of Compaq, the world's largest maker of PCs. Pfeiffer explained that an inability to ship new computers would effect the back-to-school and holiday retail seasons, the two strongest, he said. Poor Eckhard, after ignominious defeat in the sacred icon war, he's doomed to forever be the first out of the box to suck up to Bill. First among equals in the "they" in "They have to ship the machines the way we build them". After an hour of testimonials, during which Gates grinned mildly and listened intently to his advocates, he rose to the stage to defend his company's position. The boyish smile was gone. "We are fighting to protect the principle of innovation," he said emphatically. "Forcing us to divorce the Internet from our operating system would be like requiring one of the automakers to sell cars without car stereos. It would be unfair to Microsoft and deny consumers an important choice." The Chrysler car radio rides again! We are fighting to protect the principle of Standard Microsoft Business Practice! It's all so unfair! "If indeed the economy were to collapse because Windows 98 is delayed, that would be all the proof you need that we're in big trouble and they're a monopoly," said Audrie Krause of the nonprofit Internet watchdog group NetAction, which publishes a newsletter about Microsoft. "I hope the Justice Department was listening." That's another way to look at things. Cheers, Dan.