As a former technology reporter for WSJ.com, the website of the Wall Street Journal, I wrote about tech, sports, health and other topics. (My Daily Fix columns are collected here, and my Numbers Guy columns are here.) Articles sorted by date, article type and topic. WSJ.com: www.wsj.com See articles... By Date 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 Jan.-April 2003 Second-half 2002 First-half 2002 By Type Features News Tech Q&As Portability Notebook First Impressions The Afternoon Report Convention coverage Tech Briefs Others Also in the print Journal By Topic Web commerce/media Sports & technology Health Politics Cellphones E-Mail/Spam Gadgets Other Technology Sports Other Topics By Date Back to Top 2005 U.S. Open Notebook, August 31-September 12, 2005 Items on the brilliance of Roger Federer; a wish list for advanced tennis stats; Agassi-Blake's brisk pace; the advantages of the cheaper seats; journalists' secret weapon; a replay dispute; a blogging tennis player sparks controversy; and more. Tie Breaker, September 8, 2005 It's only a matter of time until some form of video replay review becomes a part of major tennis tournaments. If it does it could reshape the sport. Players will be able to challenge line calls that go against them, instead of just checking the television replays later and complaining about them. MarketWatch Co-Founder Ends SEC Stock Case, January 11, 2005 The co-founder and former editor-in-chief of the CBS MarketWatch financial news Web site will pay more than $540,000 to settle charges that he repeatedly used an investment newsletter to promote stocks he owned and intended to sell. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top December 2004 Getting a Grip on Internet Traffic, December 30, 2004 Keeping accurate track of the number of people visiting Web sites is far from an exact science. And that is a longstanding problem for Internet publishers that has been given new attention today amid a recovery in online ad spending. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Bloggers Give Beachfront View Of Devastation, Relief Efforts, December 28, 2004 There were few foreign correspondents initially on the scene to cover the deadly Asian tsunami when it struck Sunday. The region's bloggers have helped fill the void with first-hand accounts of the devastation and information on relief efforts. Tech Q&A: Microsoft's Secret Codes, December 22, 2004 Microsoft analyst Paul DeGroot discusses the software giant's setback in an EU court, the ruling's impact on business buyers, and security implications. Despite Earlier Predictions, 'Free' Web Is Going Strong, December 21, 2004 You can still get a lot for nothing on the Internet, despite earlier predictions of the decline of the "free" Web. Plus, examples of free content and services. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Billionaire NBA Owner's Gamble on a Hedge Fund Faces Long Odds, December 9, 2004 Mark Cuban's proposal to launch a sports-gambling hedge fund is itself a big wager. To succeed, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks will have to scour the market for complex bets, while overcoming steep logistical and regulatory hurdles. BBC Is Victim of Hoax in Report on Bhopal, December 6, 2004 The BBC was forced to retract part of a high-profile report marking the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal chemical disaster, after the broadcaster interviewed a prankster posing as a Dow Chemical spokesman. The hoax appears to be the work of two veteran saboteurs who target corporations and government organizations and have gone after Dow Chemical before. Digit: Web Sites Yield Information About Baseball Team's Move, December 2, 2004 Recent activity by baseball's online arm suggests there were other candidates for the Expos' new name, including "Congressionals" and even retaining "Expos." (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top November 2004 Local Papers Try Selling Football News Online, November 28, 2004 More than a half-dozen newspapers are charging premium fees for in-depth reports and commentary from National Football League locker rooms and sidelines. The results so far are mixed. California Skydiver Sees Windfall After Baseball Returns to D.C., November 25, 2004 Until recently, Rick Lemons had never heard of the Montreal Expos, and had no idea that a baseball team was relocating to Washington D.C. But the club's move brought him an unexpected payday of $20,000, thanks to his ownership of nationals.com. Abandoned Campaign Sites Can Draw Unwanted Tenants, November 18, 2004 Most political campaigns disband quickly after an election, and many abandon their Web sites with the assumption that they are no longer of much use. But if past elections are any guide, the sites could soon be the focus of renewed interest -- much to the chagrin of the candidates. Dozens of recent candidates have seen their dormant Web addresses snapped up by everyone from cybersquatters to purveyors of pornography. Federal Project Catalogs Old Campaign Web Sites, November 18, 2004 Many of this year's political campaign sites will soon disappear from the Web, but they won't be lost forever, thanks to a Library of Congress Internet-archiving project. Written as a sidebar for the above article. Online Dispenser of Drugs Wants Some Respect, November 16, 2004 Despite opposition from the medical establishment, pharmaceutical companies and many state and federal lawmakers, KwikMed.com is hoping to convince critics that its business of prescribing and selling drugs online is not only lawful, but also an important medical service. Julia Angwin co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Web Publishers Move Toward Standardizing Ad-Viewership Data, November 15, 2004 Web publishers are finally getting their numbers straight. Addressing marketers' lingering concerns about the Internet that may have kept ad dollars away, Web sites are agreeing to standardize the reporting of ad-viewership numbers, also known as impressions, and for the first time agreeing to have the numbers audited. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. AOL Plans Service to Scour Internet for Travel Deals, November 12, 2004 America Online plans to enter the crowded online travel market early next year with a free service it claims will search dozens of Web sites for the best deals. WSJ.com Projects Jason Acebal Has Won Its Election Contest, November 8, 2004 President Bush has won four more years, John Kerry has conceded and -- after days of ballot counting -- the race in Iowa has been decided in the president's favor. It's time to name a winner of the Online Journal's election contest. Congratulations, Jason Acebal. Bloggers Face Life After the Election, November 5, 2004 Now that Election Day has passed, the top political bloggers are wondering if their Web writing will continue to sustain them, or if they'll have to redirect energy to other pursuits. Pollsters Generally Had It Right, but Missed Some Key Battles, November 3, 2004 National pollsters accurately captured the broad outlines of the presidential election, but surveys in some closely contested states missed the target and early exit-poll numbers led observers astray. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. Reporters, Pundits File Real-Time Web Updates, November 3, 2004 A roundup of how Election Day played out online, from exit-poll analyses to Google's curious news judgment. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. A Close Race, but Over Quickly, November 1, 2004 Here's how Online Journal readers expect Tuesday's presidential election to play out: A razor-thin margin for the victor, and a concession speech from his opponent by 8 a.m. EST Wednesday. Back to Top October 2004 Enter the WSJ.com Election Contest, October 28, 2004 Do you think you have a better handle on the Election Day outlook than the pollsters? Test your political forecasting skills by entering the Online Journal's presidential election contest. AOL to Offer Antivirus Tools Without an Additional Charge, October 28, 2004 America Online plans to offer McAfee's antivirus software to all of its customers at no additional charge, the latest move by the Internet giant to try to stem subscriber defections. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tech Q&A: Netflix's CEO Is Mobilizing for Battle With Amazon, October 20, 2004 After a rough week for the company he founded, Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings talks about new competitive threats, leading his company's 1,000 employees and the challenges he sees ahead. To the Winners..., October 18, 2004 ...go a lot of spoils -- as well as some bad feelings. A look at how players on baseball's playoff teams divvy up their share of the loot. Written for a special report on the World Series for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Washington's New Ball Club Still Needs an Online Home, October 15, 2004 As the baseball pennant chases unfolded this fall, a different kind of race played out online: a land grab for Web site addresses that might be coveted by Washington, D.C.'s new ball club -- like washingtongrays.net and washingtongrays.com. Technical Problems at PayPal Cause Troubles for eBay Users, October 11, 2004 Technical difficulties at PayPal triggered outages for eBay Inc.'s electronic payment service throughout the weekend and Monday, preventing many online shoppers from paying for items they purchased on eBay and rankling some of the site's most-active merchants. Nick Wingfield co-wrote this article. Cheney Mix-Up Leads Surfers to Anti-Bush Site Run by Soros, October 7, 2004 At the vice presidential debate, Cheney suggested viewers visit the site factcheck.com, when he meant factcheck.org. The dot-com site is owned by a Cayman Islands company that it acquires discarded Web sites and monetizes the traffic with text advertising; the owners redirected traffic to the anti-Bush site georgesoros.com. Nicholas Zamiska co-wrote this article. (Jennifer Johnson wrote the other three items in "Campaign Posts," a recurring feature looking at how the campaign is playing out online.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Losing Cellphone No Longer Means Loss of Contacts, October 6, 2004 New tools are making it easier for cellphone users who lose or break their phones to piece back together their phonebooks. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top September 2004 New Services Are Making It Easier to Hide Who Is Behind Web Sites, September 30, 2004 The number of anonymous sites on the World Wide Web is surging, influencing political contests, raising concerns about criminal activity and spurring debate about privacy on the largely unregulated Internet. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Campaigns Ratchet Up Online Spin for Debate, September 30, 2004 Both presidential campaigns took to the Internet to spin the first presidential debate well before the candidates began trading barbs in Miami. The DNC e-mailed supporters encouraging them to visit media sites immediately after the debate and cast their votes for Kerry in online surveys aimed at picking the debate's winner. The Bush campaign, meanwhile, urged conservative bloggers to incorporate a live "debate feed" on their Web sites that would rebut Kerry's statements. Effort to Broadcast Alerts to Cellphones Gains Steam, September 28, 2004 Long-running efforts to transmit alerts to cellphones in the event of dangerous weather, terror attacks or other emergencies are gaining momentum. Digit: Miss That Game-Winning Play? Click to MLB.com for Highlights, September 23, 2004 If you missed seeing the 700th career home run slugged by Barry Bonds -- or even if you didn't -- Major League Baseball is betting you'll consider shelling out 99 cents to download a video highlight of the milestone. (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Reports on Spam Levels Paint Differing Views of the Problem, September 21, 2004 When Congress debated last year whether to pass an antispam law, statistics on the volume of junk e-mail messages were frequently trotted out as evidence of the clear and present threat. But a closer look at the numbers suggests they may be a shaky foundation for lawmakers -- and companies deciding how best to spend their information-technology dollars -- to rely on. The most referred-to statistics come from reports issued by vendors of antispam software, and their estimates are often wildly divergent. Online-Ad Revenue Hit Record in Second Quarter, September 21, 2004 Online-ad revenue was a record $2.37 billion in the second quarter as the industry continued to push past the levels reached during the dot-com boom. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Staging a Comeback, September 7, 2004 Leander Paes may be the best story at this year's U.S. Open. A year ago, the Indian tennis player and national hero was in a hospital bed grateful to be alive. Now a healthy and happy Mr. Paes is launching runs in the men's and mixed draws at Flushing Meadows. Gaining Access, September 3, 2004 How young Republicans and protesters have been exploiting a convention security hole to get into MSG for the speeches. Convention Wire: The Single-Gadget Theory; Private Parties; A Low-Key Protest, September 3, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Reporters try covering the convention with just their cellphones, snapping pictures and filing stories by text message; the liquor flows in MSG's private suites; and a low-key protest. Convention Wire: Blocked Call; Another Round; Yacht's Up With That?, September 2, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: T-Mobile subscribers struggle to receive protest update text messages; this Bud's for conventiongoers; and the GOP unabashedly parties on yachts and yacht clubs. Finding Common Ground, September 1, 2004 Indians and Jews look to form a political alliance, and Republican congressmen in New York look to tap into the groups' outsize influence and fundraising abilities. Convention Wire: Locked Out; On the Other Hand, September 1, 2004 I wrote two of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Protesters can't get near MSG, while delegates hand spare credentials to teens holding signs outside the arena. Back to Top August 2004 Get the Word Out, August 31, 2004 Text-messaging has emerged as a major political force in New York, helping protesters swap everything from meeting times and locations to reports on police activity. Some Republican delegates are using similar technology to keep updated on dinners and speeches. Convention Wire: Arnold vs. Arnold; Corporate Relations; Hot Shows, Open Seats; Broadway, Part Two; Information, Please; Hold That Thought; Dissent 101, August 31, 2004 I wrote seven of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Arnold's dual TV roles; activists crash parties; convention makes tickets available for hot Broadway shows; Broadway actors walk-out fizzles; librarians answer demonstrators' questions; Pataki and Bloomberg share a rhetorical device; and protest training sessions. Out and About, August 30, 2004 Walking in and around Times Square with Mississippi delegate Merle Flowers on the eve of the Republican convention. Convention Wire: Confronting Ground Zero, August 30, 2004 I wrote one of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, about a confrontation between a Republican delegate and an anti-Bush protester at Ground Zero. Meet the Bloggers, Part Two, August 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 15 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Republican convention in New York, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, opinions on mainstream media coverage, and what they learned from the Boston bloggers. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. Nokia Takes a Risk in Putting New Phone on the Big Screen, August 26, 2004 In the upcoming film "Cellular," the title character is a snazzy new Nokia Inc. videophone -- the result of a risky product placement by the Finnish cellphone maker. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. SEC May Update Rules Governing IPO 'Quiet Period', August 16, 2004 Google is the latest company to stumble into the murky world of federal rules governing what companies can and can't say prior to a public offering. Now, the SEC is discussing updating the rules. Deborah Solomon co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Interview With Google Founders Is Publicity Boon for Playboy, August 16, 2004 An interview Google's founders gave to Playboy has turned into a regulatory headache for the company, but the magazine is enjoying the burst of publicity. 'Quiet Period' Makes It Tough for Google to Counter Critics, August 11, 2004 Google is in a PR predicament, blitzed with negative or skeptical media coverage about its upcoming IPO but keeping mum because of so-called quiet period rules surrounding an initial public offering. Online Stock Chat Is Lukewarm on Google's IPO, August 5, 2004 Stock message boards, which helped fuel soaring stock prices in the dot-com boom, are throwing cold water on Google's initial public offering. Back to Top July 2004 The Trip Down Talk Show Row, July 30, 2004 In the fourth-floor concourse ringing the main Fleet Center hall at the Democratic convention, party luminaries each day walk the conservative talk-radio gauntlet. Microsoft Takes Risk in Unveiling Early Version of Search Engine, July 29, 2004 Microsoft's unusual decision to let the public see an early -- and somewhat flawed -- version of its new Internet search engine has made the company the subject of ridicule. But the software giant may have the last laugh. Hot-Button Issues, July 29, 2004 A photo gallery of some buttons -- and their wearers -- that caught our eyes at the Democratic convention in Boston. Convention Wire: Stood Up, Again; What's He Doing Here?, July 29, 2004 I wrote two of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: DemDates can't get a date; and President Bush appears in Boston. The Daily Views: If You Don't Like Bush, Run, July 29, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: Anna Laitin, organizing informal road races to oust Bush. Convention Wire: 'Scalping' Credentials; This Nomination's for You; Boston Beer Party II, July 28, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: "scalping" credentials outside the Fleet Center; beer signs, but no beer, inside the hall; and neighborhood bars miss Bruins fans. Vying for Attention in Boston, July 27, 2004 Election watchdogs criticize political conventions' party circuit for circumventing campaign-finance laws and giving companies direct access to delegates and congressmen. For Vonage, an Internet-phone company, that opportunity was precisely the attraction. But would partygoers choose Vonage or vodka? Sunshine State Is in Spotlight as Democrats Rally Delegates, July 27, 2004 With the early electoral-college calculus placing a premium on Florida's 27 electoral votes, and memories of the 2000 race fresh, a star-studded lineup gathered at the delegation's hotel in Boston during the Democratic convention to rally the Sunshine State's delegates for the campaign ahead. Democrats Take a Soft Touch in Evoking the Sept. 11 Attacks, July 27, 2004 How would Democrats incorporate the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, into the first national political convention since then? Gently and with restraint. Convention Wire: Freedom From Wet; Sign of the Times; President JibJab?, July 27, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: a security-policy reversal leaves conventiongoers dry; Al-Jazeera's sign spat; and Web searchers vote for JibJab. The Daily Views: Kerry Doesn't Satisfy Antiwar Activist, July 27, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: Jim Mcdonald, an antiwar activist looking for a third-party alternative. Convention Wire: Cub Reporters; Plain Gathering; Reluctant Endorsements, July 26, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: two 12-year-old girls interview Al Franken; Dennis Kucinich keynotes a people's party; and progressive activists reluctantly endorse John Kerry. Unconventional Security, July 26, 2004 Some parts of the security package around the Democratic convention are familiar, mirroring what air travelers encounter every day. But other measures seemed confusing or jarring to the thousands of people making their way into the Fleet Center. Meet the Bloggers, July 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 30 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Democratic convention in Boston, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, approach to the convention and opinions on mainstream media coverage. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. The Daily Views: A 9/11 Family Member Remembers, July 26, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: David Potorti, losing a brother on 9/11 inspired him to found an antiwar group. Tech Q&A: Commerce's New Privacy Chief Sees Regulation as Last Resort, July 19, 2004 Dan Caprio, newly appointed chief privacy officer for the Commerce Department, believes voluntary industry action is the best way to boost Internet security. We talk to Mr. Caprio about his free-market approach to security and privacy, why he recommended against an antispam registry and why he considers his job "fun." Choosing Cell Over Landline Can Bring Unexpected Pain, July 9, 2004 Think twice before you cut the cord. All kinds of services -- from satellite TV to security systems -- require a traditional phone line, and going cell-only can even make it tough to get a credit card or order a pizza. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. Companies Offer Services to Track Cellphone Minutes, July 6, 2004 Avoiding cellphone overage charges can be a major concern for wireless customers. A number of companies are now offering services to help wireless users stay on top of their minute count. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Viacom Makes Buyout Bid For Struggling SportsLine, July 1, 2004 SportsLine.com, one of the first companies to build a business around providing content on the Web, has received an offer from media conglomerate Viacom to buy the balance of its stock for about $42.6 million. Back to Top June 2004 Glory Days, June 28, 2004 After winning an Olympic medal, what do you do for an encore? Profiles of four of the most prominent Olympic athletes of the past 50 years: Bob Mathias, Nadia Comaneci, John Carlos and Al Oerter. Written for a special Encore report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. GPS Technology Has Limits in Locating Hostages in Iraq, June 28, 2004 Satellite technology has been used in the U.S. to track cars, employees, children and even pets. But can it help find soldiers and contractors abducted in Iraq and other hot spots around the globe? Pollsters Debate Merits of Phone, Online Surveys, June 17, 2004 In the political horse race between George W. Bush and John Kerry, does a click or a call better determine America's odds-on favorite? It's a question pollsters hotly debate even as online polling has gained a stronger foothold in gauging public opinion. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. There Could Be No Google Without Edward Kasner, June 14, 2004 The name of this year's hottest IPO, Google, can be traced back to a walk in the woods just after World War I, when a boy told his mathematician uncle what to call the number one followed by a hundred zeros. Search Sites' Decision to Allow Canadian Drug Ads Causes Stir, June 4, 2004 Google and Yahoo are cracking down on the illegitimate sale of pharmaceutical drugs, banning ads from companies that offer drugs like Vicodin and Viagra without a prescription. But the sites plan to continue carrying ads for Canadian pharmacies, even though it is illegal for U.S. customers to buy drugs from them. 'Google Grants' Program Brings Questions From Those Left Out, June 3, 2004 As investors wait for more news on Google's planned IPO, nonprofit groups are anxious for word about the tight-lipped company's Google Grants advertising program -- and some fear they may miss out on the Web windfall. Back to Top May 2004 Online Advertising Hits Record in First Quarter, May 24, 2004 Internet advertising revenue reached about $2.3 billion in the first quarter, a record for a single quarter, in the latest sign the industry is poised this year to surpass its bubble-era peak. Pick a Portability Number, May 23, 2004 When it comes to so-called number portability, the numbers keep changing. In tallying how many phone numbers have been transferred between carriers from November through April, the FCC bumped up its initial figure twice in just over a week, eventually putting the number of switches a lot higher than initially reported. SportsLine to Explore 'Strategic Alternatives', May 20, 2004 SportsLine.com, which has largely missed out on the improving fortunes of other Internet publishers, indicated it was putting itself up for sale. Entrepreneurs Look for Ways to Exploit Google's Ad System, May 20, 2004 How Web entrepreneurs exploit quirks in Google's popular AdSense advertising system to earn a steady stream of money despite a minimal amount of fresh content. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability FAQ, Round 2, May 19, 2004 Updated tips for people looking to switch their cellphone carrier while keeping their number. Freeing the Press, May 12, 2004 A newspaper strike in 1994 led to an 11-day online-news experiment. Written for the special report 10 years on the Web for WSJ.com. Web Hits, May 11, 2004 A selection of Page One articles about the Internet, one for each year in the last decade, from a whodunit 10 years ago about a National Weather Service cybergumshoe tracking down Danish hackers, to a profile of a man who loves getting spam e-mail. Written for the special report 10 years on the Web for WSJ.com. Major League Baseball, Sprint in Cellphone Deal, May 6, 2004 Major League Baseball games are coming to Sprint PCS cellphones. The league's interactive arm is working with start-up Idetic to offer Sprint users a video-like highlights channel and 30 game-audio channels -- one for each team. Stopping Sasser, May 3, 2004 A guide to removing the Sasser Internet worm. NBA Announces Deal to Feed Highlights to Nokia Cellphones, May 3, 2004 The NBA announced a deal with Nokia to stream nightly 20-second video highlights clips to high-end Nokia cellphones, starting with the league's championship series next month. Back to Top April 2004 Excerpts From Google's Filing, April 29, 2004 Excerpts and analysis from Google's filing to sell its shares to the public. CNET Launches Music Site, April 26, 2004 As part of a strategy to lure Internet users to a hub of music, games and other content, CNET launched a Web site allowing independent bands to upload their music -- and Internet users to sample and download it. Google Ad-Policy Change Highlights Trademark Debate, April 22, 2004 Long-simmering trademark concerns in online advertising are coming to a boil, thanks to a planned move by industry leader Google. Net Advertisers Favor Deals That Charge Only for Clicks, April 21, 2004 Online advertisers are flocking to deals where they pay each time an ad is clicked, rather than each time an ad is shown, new industry research shows. GarageBand to Revive Old MP3.com Archive, April 18, 2004 GarageBand.com plans to revive a large archive of independent bands' songs stored on MP3.com, tunes that were feared lost following the recent sale of some of that site's assets to CNET. Lawyers Bid Up Value of Web-Search Ads, April 8, 2004 "Mesothelioma" may be the most valuable word on the Internet. The rare, asbestos-related cancer is the king of search advertising, a Web phenomenon in which companies bid to get their ads placed high on the search-result pages of sites like Yahoo and Google and then pay when users click on them. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. I was also interviewed for NPR's Marketplace program about the article. More on Mesothelioma, April 8, 2004 Hundreds of millions of dollars each year is paid out from asbestos makers to victims of mesothelioma. But far less is spent on research. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. SEC Subpoenas Trading Records of Four MarketWatch Executives, April 7, 2004 MarketWatch.com said the SEC has subpoenaed stock-trading records of four of its executives, including its chief executive and its editor-in-chief, as part of the probe into former columnist Thom Calandra. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Papers Are Slow to Embrace Plagiarism-Checking Software, April 7, 2004 Can technology stop plagiarized articles before they hit the newsstand? Plagiarism Test, April 6, 2004 So, how well does plagiarism detection software work? We created a phony opinion piece about steroids, and then ran it through software from plagiarism-detection company iParadigms LLC, which compares articles to a database of Web pages, a news archive and academic papers, among other sources. Written as a sidebar for the above article. Reuters to Limit Free Online Business News, April 5, 2004 Reuters is doing away with much of its free business news -- a move that promises to shake up how millions of Internet users keep abreast of the financial world. Charles Goldsmith co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section, and on the front page of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Thomson Taps MarketWatch to Replace Reuters Content, April 1, 2004 Thomson Financial moved to replace financial news from Reuters Group PLC with content from MarketWatch.com on computer terminals of financial-services clients, signaling heightened rivalry between Thomson and Reuters. AT&T Wireless Lowers Prices on Plans, Cellphones, April 1, 2004 AT&T Wireless is rolling out cheaper calling plans and free fancy phones, in a bid to steady its shaky subscriber base ahead of its planned acquisition by Cingular Wireless. Jesse Drucker co-wrote this article. Back to Top March 2004 Research Firm Sees 29% Rise in Local Online Ads This Year, March 31, 2004 Online-ad spending by local businesses in the U.S. will increase by 29% this year, well ahead of the expected industry-wide growth rate, according to a media research and consulting firm. Tricks of the Trade: Autograph Collector's Tips, March 31, 2004 Stephen Cohn explains how he's collected more than 7,000 baseball autographs. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. For One Sports Fan in Spain, March Madness Begets Pain, March 25, 2004 Getting to watch 55 out of 56 early-round NCAA tournament games ain't bad -- unless you're a Duke fan living in Seville, Spain, and your team's game is the one missing. Microsoft Sets Two-Year Deal to Stream Baseball Webcasts, March 23, 2004 Microsoft has struck a two-year agreement with Major League Baseball's online arm to offer the league's extensive video and audio content to Microsoft's high-speed Internet subscribers, in an unusually large deal for Internet content. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. In Bid for Search Traffic, More Sites Launch Toolbars, March 22, 2004 With more search engines offering toolbars with unique features, I take three of the newest ones for a test drive. Web Users Thwart Sites' Efforts to Collect Personal Information, March 22, 2004 Online publishers are increasingly asking users for personal information like location, age, gender and occupation. The reason: Sites generally can charge advertisers more for the ability to reach a targeted audience. But some people derail that goal by intentionally falsifying their user information. Dining at the Captain's Table? Please Turn Off Your Cellphone, March 17, 2004 The next frontier for cellphone service: international waters. AT&T Wireless has formed a joint venture with Maritime Telecommunications Network to sell wireless service to cruise operators. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. AOL Offers a New Service for Last-Minute Bill Paying, March 16, 2004 AOL launched a new bill-paying tool as part of its efforts to distinguish itself from lower-priced Internet providers and shore up its declining subscriber base. SportsLine to Offer Webcasts in 'March Madness' Package, March 16, 2004 If CBS's blanket television coverage doesn't slake the thirst of college-hoops fans, enthusiasts can turn to Webcasts for more March Madness. SportsLine.com is offering a $9.95 subscription plan that will allow users with high-speed Internet connections to watch dozens of games in the busy early rounds of the men's NCAA basketball tournament. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Narrowing the Gender Gap, March 15, 2004 Women's basketball has become a powerhouse in college sports -- nowhere more than at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. But, as March Madness shows, big disparities with the men remain. Written for a special report on the NCAA tournament for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Stars of NCAA Basketball Are Students All the Same, March 15, 2004 Many schools make their student e-mail directory available to the public. To see how accessible are college basketball's brightest stars -- who are at the same time celebrities and students -- we delivered five questions to their e-mail addresses. Find out who responded, and what they had to say. Written as an online sidebar for a special report on the NCAA tournament. Jim Chairusmi co-wrote this article. More Web Sites Plan Ads Based on What Users Read, March 12, 2004 More Web sites are tracking their users' behavior to let advertisers serve targeted ads. Among the latest to start doing so: FT.com, Reuters.com and ESPN.com. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Digit: Hiker Help, March 11, 2004 Outdoors types usually take to the trails to get away from it all, but increasingly hikers are relying on high-tech gadgets to make sure they don't get lost. (Third item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Martha Stewart Living Stock Takes a Roller-Coaster Ride, March 6, 2004 Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went on a roller-coaster ride, with the stock surging as much as 20% ahead of a verdict in the trial of the company's founder, but then plunged after trading resumed following a half-hour halt surrounding the reading of that guilty verdict. (Also contributed to this related Heard on the Street column, which appeared on the front page of the Money & Investing section March 8.) Computers, Digital Technology Put Calls of NBA Referees to the Test, March 5, 2004 The fine art of refereeing a professional basketball game is fast becoming a science, thanks to digital technology and stepped-up performance monitoring. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Music Industry Eyes P2P Model in Bid to Promote Legal Sharing, March 2, 2004 Can file-sharing services and record labels coexist? For one day, at least, they did. In a raucous panel at a digital-music conference, a music executive, representatives of peer-to-peer services, and other industry leaders discussed how to channel the intense activity of online music pirates by persuading them to pay for songs. Study, FCC Numbers Show Portability Picture Improving, March 1, 2004 The process of transferring cellphone numbers to a new carrier has gotten markedly better, but more than one in seven switches still go awry, according to a survey of wireless retailers. The latest figures from the FCC on consumer complaints about so-called number portability paint a similar picture. Back to Top February 2004 Lycos Hopes New Strategy Connects With Web Users, February 27, 2004 Lycos is still in business and its sites draw millions of visitors, but its profile is significantly lower than it was in the late 1990s. Now, Lycos is metamorphosing -- and shrinking -- again, rebranding itself as a hub of paid services focused on connecting people. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. Tech Q&A: Despite High-Profile Attacks, Web Security Remains Shaky, February 24, 2004 Web security remains a hit-or-miss affair. With other vulnerabilities increasingly protected, hackers are turning to Web applications to access companies' confidential information on customers. We talk to security expert Larry Ponemon about the underlying causes of inadequate security and what consumers should look out for. Calling Portability's Winners Now That Numbers Are In, February 19, 2004 Wireless number portability's winners and losers are shaping up largely as expected: Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile made big gains, while AT&T Wireless appeared to lose ground. Many Cellphone Switchers Ignore 'Number Portability', February 19, 2004 More than half of U.S. wireless customers who switched carriers after so-called number portability rules took effect didn't bother to transfer their numbers. Online-Ad Revenue Sets Record After Long Slump, February 13, 2004 Online-ad revenue in the U.S. rose 38% to a record $2.2 billion in the fourth quarter, beating Internet-bubble results. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Comcast Talks Up Benefits Of Merger With Disney, February 11, 2004 Breaking down the motivation behind Comcast's bombshell bid for Disney. The Afternoon Report: OPEC Makes Aggressive Move To Curb Output, Lift Oil Prices, February 10, 2004 OPEC moved aggressively to keep oil prices high, setting plans to cut production by about 9% and sparking fears that the move could stall the nascent global economic recovery. Plus, see the earlier edition. (Filling in on this roundup and analysis of the day's top stories.) RealNetworks to Stop Providing Services to Baseball Web Site, February 5, 2004 RealNetworks plans to stop providing the back-end technology for online audio and video content from Major League Baseball, straining its relationship with one of its flagship partners. The Afternoon Report: FDA Moves to Help Consumers Understand Drug Advertising, February 4, 2004 If the FDA has its way, pharmaceutical advertising is about to get easier to understand. Plus, in the earlier edition, assessing the latest economic reports. (Filling in on this roundup and analysis of the day's top stories.) Washington Post's Web Site to Require User Registration, February 3, 2004 After resisting such a move for years, the Washington Post's Web site will require all readers to register and provide additional personal information. AOL Launches Brand Aimed at Teenage Users, February 3, 2004 America Online launched an online service for teenagers, the latest move by the No. 1 U.S. Internet service to target specific groups of customers. Back to Top January 2004 AT&T Wireless Leads in Portability Complaints, January 29, 2004 AT&T Wireless, which is soliciting acquisition offers, was named in nearly half of consumer complaints about transferring cellphone numbers between carriers, according to figures by the FCC. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. MarketWatch Plans Spot Checks of Some Employees' Portfolios, January 28, 2004 In a move sparked by the resignation of its co-founder amid inquiries into his stock trading, MarketWatch.com is requiring all employees to register their stock trades with the company. Also, for its financial journalists and senior executives, the company will conduct random audits to verify their trading information. The Leading Cellular Service -- in Customer Complaints, January 27, 2004 AT&T Wireless has won a dubious distinction in an industry that consumers love to gripe about. For the past year, the wireless provider consistently has had the highest customer complaint rate of any national carrier, according to complaints received by the FCC and obtained by The Wall Street Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request. Jesse Drucker co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. MarketWatch's Co-Founder Resigns, January 23, 2004 Financial-news publisher MarketWatch.com said former editor-in-chief and co-founder Thom Calandra has resigned in the face of internal and Securities and Exchange Commission informal inquiries into his trading activities. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Google Tests E-Mail Marketing, but Market Potential Is Unclear, January 22, 2004 Google's new push into e-mail marketing isn't a slam dunk. Early testers of its new e-mail advertising product, which hasn't been formally launched, say they are mostly pleased with the results. But growing consumer disenchantment with e-mail newsletters may limit the size of the e-mail market. AOL Will Let Broadband Users Download Movies, January 21, 2004 The 99-cent download is no longer just for music. For a limited time, America Online high-speed users will be able to view popular films for under a dollar though an agreement with Movielink, a digital-film venture backed by five major studios. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tricks of the Trade: A Top Performer Retires, January 21, 2004 How former NBA star David Robinson handled his retirement. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Attendees Fight Lines at Electronics Show, January 11, 2004 The crowds at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas underscore growing interest in home gadgets, especially flat-screen TVs equipped to connect to the Web and other devices. CES Notebook: Couch Potatoes Need Not Play, January 9, 2004 Meet Xavix, a videogame system that promises to make gamers sweat. Plus, Netscape's second act; the tricky nomenclature of USB flash drives; RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser warns the film industry; and other news and notes from the big Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Fossil and Suunto's Smart Watch to Use Microsoft's MSN Direct, January 9, 2004 A year after first announcing the technology for a smart watch -- capable of accessing weather and news updates, instant messages and Outlook calendars -- Microsoft introduced the watches at the Consumer Electronics Show. CES Notebook: New Oven Takes Orders From Net, January 8, 2004 In a next-generation home on the grounds of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, an oven that can both cool and heat food anchors the futuristic kitchen. Plus, a home-security robot that can send pictures to your cellphones; the Energizer Bunny drums up attention; CES's high Taxi Index; and other news and notes from the big gadgets show. MSN Plans Video-Ads Push With Release of New Version, January 8, 2004 Microsoft's MSN online service is making a bid for a share of the growing online market for video advertising, as more advertisers take their television spots to the Web. Verizon Wireless Leads Customer-Satisfaction Survey, January 7, 2004 Verizon Wireless swept the latest ranking of cellular-telephone carriers by Consumer Reports magazine. The survey takes on added importance as consumers can now keep their phone numbers when they change carriers -- removing a significant hurdle to switching. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top December 2003 Should the Outcome of a Coin Flip Mean So Much in NFL Overtime?, December 23, 2003 A collection of schemes -- from academics, fans and pro clubs -- to replace the coin toss in determining first possession in NFL overtime games. Proposed Do-Not-Spam Registry Could Pose a Challenge for FTC, December 21, 2003 The new antispam law calls for the FTC to explore the feasibility of a do-not-e-mail list. But critics say most spammers would ignore the registry, or worse, try to hack into it to harvest e-mail addresses. Defenders say the registry would play a crucial role in keeping spam out of consumers' inboxes. Here are answers to some questions about the debate. Kanoodle Looks to Battle Google in Sale of Contextual Advertising, December 17, 2003 Kanoodle.com, a closely held paid-search advertising company, said it will compete with industry leaders Google and Yahoo in the burgeoning business of supplying pay-per-click text advertisements to Web publishers. Live Sports, Online, December 11, 2003 After years of false starts and minor experimentation, live video of pro and college games went online in a big way. But leagues are still cautious. Plus: a chart of current online video offerings of college and pro sports. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Watching Sports on Cellphones May Be Small-Time Broadcasts, December 11, 2003 Live sports action may be coming to cellphones -- but who would want to watch? Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Major League Baseball Faces Webcast Dilemma, December 11, 2003 Webcasts are bringing both money and challenges to Major League Baseball. Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Value Meals, December 10, 2003 A Popeyes franchisee embraces talking, deal-making cash registers as the future of fast food. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Some Say Food Software Could Work Too Well, December 10, 2003 Among the biggest believers in the power of deal-making technology to boost restaurant sales: obesity researchers and critics of fast-food chains. Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Portability Notebook: Portability Problems Persist, Raising Questions for Carriers, December 2, 2003 A week after rules took effect letting cellphone users take their number to a new carrier, major glitches continue to plague the process. The latest in a regular feature leading up to and following the Nov. 24 deadline for carriers to allow cellphone users to take their numbers with them to a new provider. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. NFL Extends Online Deal With Foot Locker's Web Arm, December 1, 2003 The NFL announced that it has extended for five years a deal with Footlocker.com to handle the league's catalog and online sales. Back to Top November 2003 Portability Notebook: With Phone-Number Portability, There Are No Easy Questions, November 27, 2003 Transferring your home number to your cellphone is complicated enough, but if your request is at all out of the ordinary, the frustration could be enough to make you trash both phones. Plus, an update on some early switchers. Portability Notebook: Switching Wireless Clients See Delays, November 26, 2003 Many wireless customers have run into delays in their efforts to switch carriers under new number-portability rules. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Advocates, Critics Weigh In on New Antispam Legislation, November 25, 2003 After passage in the House and Senate, new antispam legislation is headed for President Bush's desk. Critics and advocates of the bill weigh in on its likely effectiveness. Portability Notebook: Cellphone Stores Report Mixed Signals on Portability, November 24, 2003 On the first day of portability, cellphone stores report light demand. Plus two items from Jen Ryan and Michelle Rama of Dow Jones Newswires. A version of this article co-written by Jesse Drucker appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: A House's Materials Can Act as Blocker of Cellphone Calls, November 21, 2003 Consumers considering transferring their landline number to a cellphone should first take a quick Physics 101 course: The material of their homes may have a big effect on how well cellphone service works within its walls. Plus, why makers of cellphone games may benefit from portability. At What Cost? Sifting for Value Among Baseball's Free Agents, November 20, 2003 With a stocked market of free agents, baseball's general managers are going on a holiday shopping spree. Among the 210 players who have gone on the open market are catcher Javy Lopez, shortstop Miguel Tejada and pitcher Andy Pettitte. But how to value all of that talent? We provide a guide. Portability Notebook: FCC, Census Bureau Differ on Areas That Make Up Top 100, November 20, 2003 Number portability will begin in the nation's top 100 metro areas by population. But defining what these are isn't so simple. Online-Ad Seller WhenU Wins Another Court Round, November 20, 2003 A federal judge ruled that WhenU, an online-ad seller, wasn't violating the trademarks nor copyrights of Wells Fargo and Quicken Loans by displaying competitive ads to Internet users when they accessed those companies' Web sites. Portability Notebook: Wireless Carriers Should Target 'Quality' Customers, Analyst Says, November 19, 2003 Wireless carriers looking to lure competitors' subscribers should keep in mind the mantra "quality, not quantity," advises an analyst. Plus, more intercarrier porting deals. Herbert Ouida: Votives Tribute Counters 'Ugliness of That Day', November 19, 2003 Several times since the attacks Ouida has visited Ground Zero, but he said the cold pit evoked no hope, "just the ugliness of that day." Now that he has glimpsed what is to come, he is happily surprised. He was especially moved by the design called Votives in Suspension. His son Todd was killed in the attacks; his office was destroyed. The first of five reactions to memorial proposals for the site of the World Trade Center, from victims' family members and survivors of the attacks. Meyer Feig: Finding a Sense of a Community in 'Suspending Memory' Design, November 19, 2003 The Suspending Memory memorial design would give visitors the best sense of the community that was lost on Sept. 11, Feig says. Feig's office was destroyed in the attacks. Mary Fetchet: Group Gives Failing Grades to Eight Finalists' Designs, November 19, 2003 Fetchet fails all memorial proposals for one reason: None incorporated access to the bedrock of the World Trade Center site beneath the footprints of the towers. Fetchet's son, stock trader Bradley Fetchet, was killed in the attacks. Monica Iken: Widow of Sept. 11 Victim Finds Eight Winners Among Finalists, November 19, 2003 "I'm blown away," Iken said after seeing the eight memorial proposals. "I could put myself in any one of those and go, wow, I can be there and connect to my husband." Iken's husband, bondtrader Michael Iken, was killed in the attacks. Michael Burke: Memorials Should Reflect Contrast of Good and Evil, November 19, 2003 The proposals for a World Trade Center memorial reflect the loss of life suffered on Sept. 11, 2001, Burke says. But they don't contain a strong sense of good and evil. Burke's brother, fire captain William F. Burke Jr., was killed in the attacks. Time Warner's AOL Launches Audio, Video Search Feature, November 19, 2003 America Online launched an audio and video search feature, part of a broader effort to attract broadband customers with content such as music clips, movie trailers and sports highlights. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Debts Can Still Haunt Switchers; Regulators Give Portability Pitch, November 18, 2003 Old phone debts could be a problem for people who want to switch carriers. Plus, an item by Dow Jones Newswires reporter Mark Wigfield. Quick Fix: Updating an Address Book, November 18, 2003 Some of your friends and business associates have a new phone number and address, but you've still got their old contact information in your Outlook address book. Here are three programs that make it easier to update their contact information. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. The Web's Best Sites On Number Portability, November 17, 2003 Links to sites that offer help in choosing a new wireless carrier. The Big Switch, November 17, 2003 What portability means for carriers, handset makers, small businesses and more. Portability Notebook: What the FCC Means by 'Local', November 17, 2003 How you can move to a new city and still benefit from "local" number portability. Plus, two items from Dow Jones Newswires reporters Christine Nuzum and Mark Wigfield. Portability Notebook: Verizon Wireless, Sprint Force Hands of Smaller Cell Carriers, November 16, 2003 How two large carriers helped ensure that portability goes nationwide on May 24. Plus, more intercarrier number-transfer deals, and why they don't matter as much as you might think. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. CNET to Buy MP3.com Assets From Vivendi's U.S. Net Unit, November 14, 2003 CNET Networks signed a deal to acquire the assets of MP3.com from Vivendi Universal's U.S. Internet unit, marking the end of a storied name in online music, at least in its current incarnation. Portability Notebook: Portability Rules Won't Make Cell Photos Any More Mobile, November 13, 2003 Your camera-phone photos won't be as portable as your phone number. Plus, more gadgets to help cut the cord. Digit: Bill Joy Meditates.com, November 13, 2003 Sun Microsystems Inc. co-founder and influential programmer Bill Joy plans an 8-foot-high by 12-foot-wide meditative wall projecting calming images in an apartment he is renovating in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan. (Second item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Largent Discusses Complexity Behind Portability's Curtain, November 12, 2003 A glimpse at the inner workings of transferring your number to a new carrier. Plus, portability deals a blow to telemarketers; and a survey offers hope and challenges to the local phone company. Portability Notebook: Dock-n-Talk Tries to Make Cell a Better Home Phone, November 11, 2003 Dock-n-Talk aims to make it easier to ditch your landline. Plus, a wireless exectuive lashes out at the FCC. Online-Ad Sales Continue Upswing, November 11, 2003 Online-ad sales rose 14% in the second quarter from the year-earlier period, another sign that the industry is rebounding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Why It May Be Worth Waiting to Switch, November 10, 2003 Thousands of people will change cellular providers on "portability day," and that may be a good reason not to be among them. Plus, an underused Web marketing tactic to lure potential switchers. Portability Notebook: The Double-Edged Sword of Carriers' Web Marketing, November 7, 2003 Are wireless carriers' own Web sites making users more curious to switch? Plus, assessing the cost of landline number portability. First in a regular feature leading up to the Nov. 24 deadline for carriers to allow cellphone users to take their numbers with them to a new provider. Efforts to Expand Net-Tax Ban Make Senate Passage Uncertain, November 6, 2003 What looked several months ago like a routine effort to make permanent a five-year ban on Internet-access taxes has transformed into a bitter congressional battle. Here are answers to some questions about the legislative debate. Sendmail to Sell Antispam Tool From Newcomer Cloudmark, November 3, 2003 Sendmail, a provider of corporate tools for handling e-mail, announced a partnership with start-up Cloudmark to sell that company's antispam software in an effort to get a piece of the growing market for fighting junk e-mail. Back to Top October 2003 Small Cellphone Shops Await 'Portability' With Hope, Anxiety, October 28, 2003 Third-party cellphone anticipate a surge in business when portability starts, but many say they are in the dark about how the number transfers will work -- and may be ill-equipped to handle the expected heavy demand. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. E-Mail Services Firm IronPort Announces New VC Funding, October 27, 2003 IronPort Systems announced that it has secured an additional $14 million in financing, in another sign that the flood of spam into e-mail users' inboxes is accelerating demand for weapons to fight it. Media Trade Associations Debate Value of Advertising, October 27, 2003 In an unusual debate, representatives of the major trade associations for most big media types -- newspapers, magazines, local TV, cable TV, outdoor, online, direct marketing and radio -- gathered to promote the value of their clients to advertisers and media buyers. Primedia Agrees to Sell Web-Ad Unit to Google, October 26, 2003 Primedia said it reached a deal to sell its online-advertising unit Sprinks to Google, solidifying Google's position in the growing business of supplying pay-per-click text advertisements to Web publishers. Radio Reporter Tests Wi-Fi for Filing Stories on the Go, October 17, 2003 Will tomorrow's reporters need a pen, notebook -- and Wi-Fi? ABC News's radio operation is looking to find out, through a current trial here and in Washington, D.C., using the wireless Internet technology. A day with one of its reporters shows the flexibility of Wi-Fi, but also its technological glitches. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. FCC Portability Guidelines Don't Address Landline Switches, October 8, 2003 The FCC clarified some uncertainties about rules allowing cellphone users to keep their phone numbers while switching carriers, but didn't address crucial questions about switching numbers between landlines and cellphones. A version of this article co-written by Dow Jones Newswires' Mark Wigfield appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Major League Baseball Sells Downloads of Playoff Games, October 7, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site is selling downloadable video of playoff games to be viewed on their computer or burned to a CD, for $3.95 a game. Failure Rate for eBay Searches Leaves Some Sellers Rankled, October 7, 2003 Occasional glitches with the search function on eBay have frustrated some sellers, but the site so dominates the online-auction space that competitors are unlikely to benefit. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. America Online Launches New Service AOL Latino, October 1, 2003 In a bid to expand its market share in the burgeoning cohort of U.S. Hispanics, America Online introduced a revamped and expanded version of its Spanish-language AOL Latino service. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top September 2003 Label Urges Ben Harper Fans to Share Tracks, but Not Steal, September 25, 2003 In a marketing twist, Virgin Records is encouraging online sharing among fans of musician Ben Harper -- but no files are changing hands. Tech Q&A: Keeping Up With Hackers, Viruses, September 24, 2003 Hackers and virus writers have gotten faster at their craft, sparking a wave of worm attacks. We talk to computer security expert Gerhard Eschelbeck about the outlook for consumers and companies looking to keep their computers secure. MSN Boosts Use of Overture Ads Despite Its Rivalry With Yahoo, September 23, 2003 MSN has expanded its use of paid-search ads from Overture, despite plans for Overture to be acquired by MSN rival Yahoo. Baseball Hopes to Entice Fans With New Web Pricing, September 18, 2003 With playoff races heating up, Major League Baseball is cutting prices for its Webcasts to $1 a day and beaming two games at once. Cloudmark Plans System to Let Good E-Mail Avoid Spam Filters, September 18, 2003 Legitimate e-mail advertising and newsletters, increasingly a casualty of the spam wars, may get a boost. Cloudmark introduced a program that aims to prevent legitimate commercial e-mail messages from getting blocked as unsolicited junk mail. Stacy Forster co-wrote this article. Buzzless Tech Trade Show Has Some Small Treasures, September 17, 2003 The technology sector may be showing signs of a rebound, but that hasn't translated into much buzz at the TechXNY technology trade show and conference. Still, some gadgets from smaller tech companies caught our eye, including a pen-shaped scanner that reads and translates typewritten text, and software for connecting conference attendees that works like online dating services. Dow Jones Newswires' Donna Fuscaldo co-wrote this article. Sports Illustrated Restricts Access to Part of Web Site, September 11, 2003 Sports Illustrated has placed new restrictions on its online edition, granting access to much of its content exclusively to subscribers of the magazine. It is the latest move by AOL Time Warner to drive magazine subscriptions through its Web sites. Crunching Number Portability, September 10, 2003 After years of delays, wireless customers will soon be able to keep their phone numbers when they switch carriers. But portability is fraught with complications, and carriers are still scrambling to figure out how the system will work. Will it happen by the November deadline? Is my town covered? And other frequently asked questions. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. (I also contributed to this related article by Jane Spencer, which appeared on the front page of the Personal Journal section.) America Online Ad Chief Apologizes to Advertisers, September 10, 2003 In her first public appearance since becoming head of America Online's ad sales, Lisa Brown issued a mea culpa to advertisers. Accelerators Breathe New Life Into Dial-Up Internet Service, September 10, 2003 Will dial-up have a second act? Hundreds of thousands of Internet users have signed up for "acceleration services," which use technological tricks to speed up a traditional dial-up Internet connection. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Will the Music Industry Sue Your Kid?, September 10, 2003 This week's lawsuits by the record industry have raised concerns for the tens of millions of Americans (and their parents) who swap music regularly. Here are some of the basic questions and answers about who should be worried, and why. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. (Also at this free site.) Tricks of the Trade: Pro Shortstop's New Glove, September 10, 2003 How All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez cares for his gloves. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. An Unlikely Crowd Favorite Reaches Open Quarterfinals, September 5, 2003 Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui advanced to the quarterfinals at tennis's U.S. Open and, in the process, solidified his unlikely role as a crowd favorite. At Age 14, Tennis Phenom Julia Cohen Is Set on Pros, September 2, 2003 Julia Cohen, 14 years old, says she hates school and hates the prospect of going to college even more. That may be the ideal attitude for her career of choice: professional tennis. A Rainy Day at the U.S. Open: Virtual Tennis & Backgammon, September 2, 2003 A light but steady rain delayed most matches at the U.S. Open on Monday, but there was plenty of action off the courts, from fans and players competing in virtual tennis matches to umpires in heated backgammon competition. Here are some snapshots of a rainy day at Flushing Meadows. AstraZeneca Plans Online Push for New Cholesterol Drug Crestor, September 1, 2003 AstraZeneca plans to advertise Crestor, its new cholesterol-lowering drug, on three popular U.S. Web sites this week, in an unusual pharmaceutical marketing strategy: It is targeting potential users of the drug before making sales pitches to their doctors. The Wall Street Journal's Scott Hensley contributed to this article. Back to Top August 2003 Tech Q&A: Tennis Group Shows Off Web Technology at U.S. Open, August 28, 2003 From instant scoring to Web video, the U.S. Open prides itself on being high-tech. We talked to Ezra Kucharz, managing director of advanced media for the tennis association that oversees the tournament. South Lags Behind Rest of U.S. in Internet Usage, August 28, 2003 Internet usage is rising steadily among adults across the U.S., but Southern states continue to lag behind the rest of country, according to a new study. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. AOL Broadband Service Plans to Offer NFL Game Highlights, August 26, 2003 The NFL and America Online announced a deal to provide video previews and highlights for every game to subscribers of AOL's broadband Internet service. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Online News Publishers Showed Gains in 2nd Quarter, August 24, 2003 The rising online-ad market is lifting news publishers' results, based on their second-quarter figures. Big Online Publishers Flirt With Context-Based Ads, August 22, 2003 Big news organizations are taking their shot at an advertising segment that has been a home run for Web-search engines: short text ads keyed to a reader's interests. Weather Sites Run Ads Based on Local Conditions, August 21, 2003 Online weather sites are experimenting with ads that are triggered by local weather conditions. Getting Unplugged Sheds Light on What Is Wired These Days, August 18, 2003 For the better part of a decade, the digital dream has been a wireless, cashless, instantly connected society. But when the lights went out on Thursday, one thing was clear: When you're unplugged, even very simple tasks can prove to be impossible. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Susan Warren and Melanie Trottman were lead writers on the piece; I contributed two paragraphs and took the photo of George Zamfotis that was turned into a dot drawing. Small Web Advertisers Dash as News Breaks, August 17, 2003 When David Morison learned about the power blackout, he knew immediately what he should do: buy paid-search advertisements. Acting fast, his small business scored prime Web real estate by targeting search ads to news. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) High-Tech Takes Back Seat to Candles, Flashlights, Radio, August 15, 2003 The blackout forced many people to adjust to 24 hours without modern comforts and technologies. Enter candles, portable radios, rooftop slumbers and other flashbacks to an earlier era. Jennifer Saranow contributed to this article. Internet Bug Is a Boon to Tech-Security Firms, August 15, 2003 The Blaster computer worm, which has attacked hundreds of thousands of computers world-wide, has boosted business at computer-security firms as consumers and small businesses scramble to protect themselves. Josef Federman and Jennifer Saranow contributed to this article. Tech Q&A: Wall Street Firms Curb Access to Personal E-Mail, August 13, 2003 An increasing number of financial-services firms are blocking their workers from accessing personal e-mail accounts from America Online, Yahoo, Hotmail and others. We talk with Raymond James's vice president of information security, Gene Fredriksen, about why his firm is going to start blocking personal e-mail accounts next month, how he'll do it and what the new rules cost. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe, on the front page of the Money & Investing section. RealNetworks and Sprint PCS to Unveil Cellphone Media Offer, August 11, 2003 RealNetworks and Sprint PCS announced a package of paid audio and visual content, an important test of U.S. cellphone users' appetite for multimedia services. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. The Afternoon Report: Despite Better Jobs Data, Reason to Worry Remains, August 7, 2003 The troubled labor market is showing signs of recovery, but the economy's explosive productivity growth remains a short-term hurdle. (Filling in on this roundup and analysis of the day's top stories.) The Afternoon Report: EU Charges Put Microsoft Back Under the Microscope, August 6, 2003 The specter of legal troubles at the software giant has resurfaced in Brussels. (Filling in on this roundup and analysis of the day's top stories.) Back to Top July 2003 Merrill Brown Resigns as Chief of RealNetworks' Content Efforts, July 31, 2003 RealNetworks' Merrill Brown plans to leave the company in late August, citing a shift in his job responsibilities. Brown is in charge of the company's online subscription services. Terror Readiness Site Ready.gov Slowly Expands Beyond English, July 29, 2003 Como se dice "duct tape"? For the millions of Americans who don't read English well, the federal government doesn't have the answer -- at least not at terror-preparedness site Ready.gov. Like most federal-government sites, it's only available in English. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Woofing for Youth, July 24, 2003 Bow Wow: rapper, actor -- computer addict? The performer, age 16, touted Computers for Youth, a not-for-profit group that distributes computers to New York City middle-school students and provides technical training and support. (Last item) MarketWatch Plans To Acquire Pinnacor, July 23, 2003 MarketWatch.com agreed to acquire Pinnacor, a provider of financial information and analysis tools, for about $103 million in cash and stock. Separately, MarketWatch posted a narrower second-quarter loss. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. IBM in Sponsor Deal With NFL That Includes Archiving Video, July 22, 2003 The NFL is going high-tech, partnering with IBM to digitize its video archives and explore new consumer offerings like video on demand. IBM will also become an NFL sponsor. Tech Q&A: Macromedia CEO Says Flash Will Soon Be Found in Phones, July 22, 2003 Macromedia CEO Burgess talks about Flash-enabled cellphones and why he thinks Web sites have come a long way in their use of Flash. First Impressions: ING Direct Campaign Captures Attention of Online-Ad Industry, July 21, 2003 ING Direct plans to debut a TV ad on the Web six weeks before it hits the U.S. airwaves. The move signals the growing use of the Internet to deliver sophisticated branding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Roto-Rooter Is Flush With New Technology, July 17, 2003 GPS phones are taking their place alongside wrenches and hand-snakes as essential plumbers' tools. Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest plumbing company, is using satellite technology to dispatch its technicians. Tech Q&A: Search Watcher Sullivan Dissects Overture Deal, July 14, 2003 Danny Sullivan, the editor of industry newsletter Search Engine Watch, spoke with me about the Yahoo-Overture deal, what it means for competitors, and what may be next in the online-ad space. Consumer Reports Picks Top Antispam Software, July 9, 2003 In the first-ever ratings of junk-e-mail-blocking software by the influential Consumer Reports magazine, the top spot was nabbed by SAProxy, a free program from a little-known start-up. MLB.com Hits 5 Million Ballots For 'Last Man' All-Star Voting, July 8, 2003 MLB.com has registered more than five million ballots cast by fans for the final two players to make baseball's All-Star Game. Boston's Jason Varitek and Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins lead in early voting. First Impressions: TV Commercials Go Online, but Will Surfers Tune In?, July 8, 2003 Television commercials are coming to your desktop, thanks to better technology and faster Internet connections. Will viewers tune in or tune out? MLB.com Sees Record Number of Ballots Cast for All-Star Game, July 3, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site registered 4.6 million ballots for the All-Star Game, a record number and an increase of more than 50% over last year's total. Sabermetrics Goes Mainstream, July 1, 2003 With the publication of the bestseller "Moneyball," baseball's stats geeks finally have gone mainstream. So why do baseball writers rely on outmoded stats? Written for the Leisure & Arts page of The Wall Street Journal. Quick Fix: E-Mailing a Mobile Phone, July 1, 2003 Instead of scrambling for paper and a pen to jot down an address while clutching a mobile phone to your ear, have the caller e-mail the information. Sound tough? It's not. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Web-Ad Provider WhenU Wins Round in U-Haul Case, July 1, 2003 A federal judge ruled in favor of WhenU, an online-ad seller, in a case brought by U-Haul. The suit claimed WhenU displayed ads for other companies, including competitors, to users of U-Haul's Web site. Back to Top June 2003 Key Questions in Crackdown on File Sharing by Music Firms, June 30, 2003 Answers to pressing questions about the music industry's crackdown on online music swappers: Who will be targeted? When is file sharing illegal? Will the crackdown work? And more. Make 'Number Portability' Easy, Says Chief of Verizon Wireless, June 24, 2003 Verizon Wireless's CEO called on the rest of the wireless industry to make it easy for their customers to keep their numbers when switching carriers, and said it would charge such customers no fees for switching. Tech Q&A: MmO2 Tests 3G Waters on Remote Isle of Man, June 23, 2003 On the tiny Isle of Man, the future of wireless is taking shape. That, at least, is the hope of British carrier mmO2. We talked to Chris Hall, managing director of the 3G project. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. DoCoMo USA Chief Urges U.S. Carriers to Offer 3G, June 20, 2003 U.S. wireless carriers should launch next-generation services to increase market share, the chief of NTT DoCoMo's U.S. unit said. But the Japanese company's experience with 3G underscores the challenges other carriers likely will face. Fun and Funky Gadgets From CeBIT's U.S. Debut, June 20, 2003 Gadgets at CeBIT America were more sparse than at the flagship German trade show, but a handful of offbeat gizmos managed to get our attention. Katherine Meyer contributed to this article. Tech Q&A: David Garrison, chief executive of STSN, a provider of wireless Internet access to hotels and conferences, June 17, 2003 Will the business travelers of tomorrow demand wireless Internet access? Mr. Garrison says yes, and that hotels will have to offer Wi-Fi service to keep their business customers. MLB.com Sees 1,700 Downloads of Game Video of Clemens Outing, June 17, 2003 About 1,700 fans paid $3.95 each to download the entire game video of Roger Clemens's 300th victory from Major League Baseball's Web site. Major League Baseball to Sell Downloads of Entire Games, June 12, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site is testing a novel way of selling video: letting fans download video of an entire game to be viewed on their computer or burned to a CD. Online-Ad Sales Show Signs of Return to Growth, June 12, 2003 Online-ad revenue showed a healthy sequential increase in the fourth quarter of 2002, reversing two years of declines, according to revised numbers compiled by an industry trade group. (Also at this free site.) Local Governments Look to Cellphone-Based Alerts, June 12, 2003 Could cellphone text messages save lives? Emergency alert systems that would allow governments to send text messages to wireless devices have gained traction in recent months. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. ABC News, RealNetworks Set Streaming-Video Deal, June 10, 2003 ABC News and RealNetworks announced a multiyear deal that expands their longtime partnership and makes RealNetworks the only multimedia hub with access to ABC News's around-the-clock online Webcast. WNBA, RealNetworks Strike Deal to Stream Video of Games, June 6, 2003 RealNetworks and the WNBA said they have reached a multiyear deal to Webcast at least 10 women's basketball games per season as part of a new subscription service. Ballparks Let Fans Order Food From Seats by Using Cellphones, June 4, 2003 Every other entertainment venue is trying to ban cellphones these days, but not the ballpark. Around the country, teams are encouraging fans to use their phones to do more than just call up their buddy in seat F34 and wave. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Creative Offerings May Be Key to Get Messaging Off the Bench, June 3, 2003 In-stadium cellphone applications using text-messaging and wireless Internet are part of a broader strategy by wireless carriers to lure Americans to thumb away on their handsets. This article and the following one were written as an online sidebar for the above article. Tech Q&A: Mike Veeck, co-owner of five minor-league baseball teams, June 3, 2003 Mike Veeck has never met a baseball promotion he didn't like -- unless it involved technology. But now he's come full-circle, and is on the cutting edge of in-stadium cellphone food-ordering. Back to Top May 2003 WebFN to Shut Down Streaming Video Operation, May 30, 2003 WebFN plans to shut down its streaming-video operations Friday after nearly three years of broadcasts, making it the latest online video-news operation to close. WNBA to Stream Video of Game Over Internet, May 30, 2003 The WNBA will stream the video of a game over the Internet, a first for the seven-year-old league and an apparent first for women's professional sports. New Voicemail Services Hope to Challenge Answering Machine, May 27, 2003 AOL and Microsoft hope their new voicemail offerings will bring the age of the machine to a close. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. 'American Idol' Gives Lift to Text Messaging, May 23, 2003 AT&T Wireless's chief said 2.5 million votes were cast by wireless text messaging during Wednesday's finale of "American Idol." He said the service experienced strong growth over the course of the four-month series. Tech Q&A: Scott Dinsdale, executive vice president for digital strategy, Motion Picture Association of America, May 9, 2003 Hollywood has avoided the worst effects of piracy felt by the recording studios, and Scott Dinsdale aims to keep things that way. AOL Says Broadband Users Rapidly Joining New Service, May 6, 2003 AOL Time Warner's launch of the latest version of America Online has been well ahead of company forecasts and interest has been especially strong among high-speed Internet users, a company executive said at a conference in New York. Blockbuster CEO Makes Case for Rentals as Antipiracy Tool, May 5, 2003 Blockbuster's CEO said video rental acts as a powerful deterrent to piracy "because we have legally satisfied consumers' appetite for entertainment." Back to Top Jan.-April 2003 Overstock CEO Takes Blame Amid Weak Results, Stock Slide, April 30, 2003 Blame me. That's what the chief executive, chairman and largest shareholder of Overstock.com Inc. effectively told Wall Street following the Internet retailer's weak first-quarter results -- which knocked its already depressed stock lower and came shortly after the company completed a follow-on stock offering. NBA Takes a Shot at HD Television, April 29, 2003 The NBA plans to air two hours of daily high-definition television, in the latest move by sports programmers to lure more fans to buy HD sets and subscribe to HD services. Some Sports Web Sites Add War Coverage to Mix, March 31, 2003 How sports Web sites are grappling with how to cover news from Iraq; the top item in the latest Web at War column, about how the war in Iraq is taking shape online. How Do You Narrow Your Product Options?, March 17, 2003 The founders of HandyLab developed a groundbreaking medical-testing device -- but how does a small company decide which market to target? Written for a small-business special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) Yahoo to Sell Video Service With Sports, Entertainment, March 17, 2003 Yahoo, broadening its push into fee-based services, Monday introduced a video subscription service that offers exclusive entertainment and sports content. Written by Mylene Mangalindan; I contributed three paragraphs at the bottom about video content from March Madness. Baseball Plans Webcast of Games, Blacking Out Fans' Local Teams, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball plans to Webcast nearly 1,000 games this season -- but it will use Internet-location technology to black out most viewers' home teams. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. MLB.TV Signals New Interest in Broadband Video Offerings, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball's planned offering of live, streaming video of about 1,000 games is the clearest sign yet of a reinvigorated Webcasting market. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. Money's Worth: Let your property work for you, February 27, 2003 These homes are approaching the $600,000 range, but offer income from attached rental units to help ease the bite. SportsLine Wins NCAA Deal, Will Sell Gambling Operations, February 26, 2003 SportsLine.com was selected by CBS Sports to publish the sites for 66 collegiate sports championships, including men's basketball, in a deal that underlines the value of online tie-ins for mainstream advertisers. In Face of Illegible Name Tags, Some Boomers Cry, No More!, February 14, 2003 Fed up with hard-to-read name tags and their own deteriorating vision, a coalition of baby boomers is demanding that business-conference organizers make identification badges more legible. Consumer Reports Finds Trans Fats in Many Foods, February 11, 2003 Spotlighting the hidden presence of trans fats in many popular packaged foods, Consumer Reports magazine has found substantial amounts of the unhealthy substance in items including breakfast cereal and frozen waffles. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Big Internet Players Show New Interest in Weblogs, February 5, 2003 Terra Lycos's Tripod quietly introduced its Blog Builder last week, marking increased interest by big Internet players in the fast-growing world of Weblogs. AOL may not be far behind. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top Second-half 2002 IAEA's ElBaradei Believes Iraq Isn't Mission Impossible, December 17, 2002 Mohamed ElBaradei must overcome steep odds to uncover any nuclear-weapons program that Iraq has developed. But the International Atomic Energy Agency's chief believes diplomacy -- and a tougher U.N. resolution -- will help him to succeed. Jody Shenn co-wrote this article. HotBot Relaunches in Move to Regain Search Ranking, December 16, 2002 Terra Lycos is relaunching HotBot, an early Web search favorite among techies, in a move to boost revenue from paid listings. The Best Way to ...Fill Prescriptions, November 18, 2002 It's easy to get a prescription drug online, but is it safe and legal?. Written for a special report on the Internet for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Search Engines Face Ad Dilemma, November 18, 2002 Web sites that run ads for shady online pharmacies may be in store for a collective headache. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. U.S., Canada Pharmacy Groups Seek to Deter Exporting of Drugs, November 13, 2002 Striking a blow against the practice of importing cheap prescription drugs from Canada, U.S. and Canadian professional pharmacy associations plan to launch a certification program for Internet pharmacies based in Canada that purposely will exclude any pharmacies that ship to the U.S. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Selling MSN, October 25, 2002 Microsoft's plastering of several Manhattan neighborhoods with decals for the release of MSN 8 didn't sit well with some business owners. We had this story the day before the AP reported that New York told the company to remove the ads. Sell First, Advertise Later, October 21, 2002 Business-to-business ads on the Web have lagged behind consumer ads. But that's starting to change. Written for an e-commerce special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Finding the Right Target, October 21, 2002 Segmenting is poised to be the next big thing in online advertising. But will advertisers and Web users buy into it? Written as an online sidebar for the above article. Getting Your Money Back: You've been ripped off. Now what do you do?, September 16, 2002 Internet fraud is a growing affliction, threatening to erase consumer confidence in e-commerce. Here's what to do if you've been ripped off. Written for an e-commerce special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Rebuilding Downtown: Key Players, August 26, 2002 This interactive graphic detailed who has the money and who has the power in the struggle to rebuild at the site of the former World Trade Center. Back to Top First-half 2002 World Cup Links of the Day, June 3 - July 1, 2002 This daily feature provided links to the Web's best sites, articles, features and games on the World Cup, along with some snappy commentary. Co-compiled with Jim Chairusmi. This feature was praised in an Online Journalism Review roundup of websites' World Cup coverage (scroll halfway down). It Shoots, It Scores! Robots Play Soccer, June 20, 2002 Robotic dogs and humanoids battle it out for android soccer supremacy at RoboCup 2002 in Japan. Flashback: Sex-Change Operation Leaves Kansas Man's Estate in Dispute, June 12, 2002 In this installment of an online feature updating Page One articles, I look at the case of a Kansas estate dispute centering around the gender of the woman who claims the estate. She was born a man, then underwent a sex-change operation. Kansas courts rule she remains a man; she plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, lawyers and transgendered activists watch on intently. The Official World Cup Web In Delayed Match Fragments, May 31, 2002 Time differences of up to 12 hours may make this the Internet's best World Cup, with rooters going online to get scores, analysis and -- in a Cup first -- video streams while at work or from home. Tech Q&A: Michael McCreary, vice-president for R&D at E Ink, April 29, 2002 Your newspaper may someday consist of one sheet of electronic paper, continually updated wirelessly with the latest news. So say the people at E Ink, makers of technology that would be integral to such futuristic broadsheets. Fans Try Out New Web Applications for Play-By-Play of Baseball Games, April 17, 2002 A survey of Web applications for following baseball games online, along with an opinionated guide to the leading options. MLB.com Offers Fans of Baseball Shorter Version of the Old Ball Game, April 3, 2002 Baseball fans will be able to watch 20-minute fast-forwarded video of games on the league's official website, thanks to the latest video-editing technology and one of baseball's oldest traditions: the stringer. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tech Q&A: Victor Bergonzoli, president of Dartfish USA, March 26, 2002 The makers of SimulCam, the technology that showed two skiers side by side during the Olympics, project big things for their video innovations. Back to Top By Type Features U.S. Open Notebook, August 31-September 12, 2005 Items on the brilliance of Roger Federer; a wish list for advanced tennis stats; Agassi-Blake's brisk pace; the advantages of the cheaper seats; journalists' secret weapon; a replay dispute; a blogging tennis player sparks controversy; and more. Tie Breaker, September 8, 2005 It's only a matter of time until some form of video replay review becomes a part of major tennis tournaments. If it does it could reshape the sport. Players will be able to challenge line calls that go against them, instead of just checking the television replays later and complaining about them. Getting a Grip on Internet Traffic, December 30, 2004 Keeping accurate track of the number of people visiting Web sites is far from an exact science. And that is a longstanding problem for Internet publishers that has been given new attention today amid a recovery in online ad spending. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Bloggers Give Beachfront View Of Devastation, Relief Efforts, December 28, 2004 There were few foreign correspondents initially on the scene to cover the deadly Asian tsunami when it struck Sunday. The region's bloggers have helped fill the void with first-hand accounts of the devastation and information on relief efforts. Tech Q&A: Microsoft's Secret Codes, December 22, 2004 Microsoft analyst Paul DeGroot discusses the software giant's setback in an EU court, the ruling's impact on business buyers, and security implications. Despite Earlier Predictions, 'Free' Web Is Going Strong, December 21, 2004 You can still get a lot for nothing on the Internet, despite earlier predictions of the decline of the "free" Web. Plus, examples of free content and services. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Billionaire NBA Owner's Gamble on a Hedge Fund Faces Long Odds, December 9, 2004 Mark Cuban's proposal to launch a sports-gambling hedge fund is itself a big wager. To succeed, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks will have to scour the market for complex bets, while overcoming steep logistical and regulatory hurdles. Digit: Web Sites Yield Information About Baseball Team's Move, December 2, 2004 Recent activity by baseball's online arm suggests there were other candidates for the Expos' new name, including "Congressionals" and even retaining "Expos." (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Local Papers Try Selling Football News Online, November 28, 2004 More than a half-dozen newspapers are charging premium fees for in-depth reports and commentary from National Football League locker rooms and sidelines. The results so far are mixed. California Skydiver Sees Windfall After Baseball Returns to D.C., November 25, 2004 Until recently, Rick Lemons had never heard of the Montreal Expos, and had no idea that a baseball team was relocating to Washington D.C. But the club's move brought him an unexpected payday of $20,000, thanks to his ownership of nationals.com. Abandoned Campaign Sites Can Draw Unwanted Tenants, November 18, 2004 Most political campaigns disband quickly after an election, and many abandon their Web sites with the assumption that they are no longer of much use. But if past elections are any guide, the sites could soon be the focus of renewed interest -- much to the chagrin of the candidates. Dozens of recent candidates have seen their dormant Web addresses snapped up by everyone from cybersquatters to purveyors of pornography. Federal Project Catalogs Old Campaign Web Sites, November 18, 2004 Many of this year's political campaign sites will soon disappear from the Web, but they won't be lost forever, thanks to a Library of Congress Internet-archiving project. Written as a sidebar for the above article. Online Dispenser of Drugs Wants Some Respect, November 16, 2004 Despite opposition from the medical establishment, pharmaceutical companies and many state and federal lawmakers, KwikMed.com is hoping to convince critics that its business of prescribing and selling drugs online is not only lawful, but also an important medical service. Julia Angwin co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Web Publishers Move Toward Standardizing Ad-Viewership Data, November 15, 2004 Web publishers are finally getting their numbers straight. Addressing marketers' lingering concerns about the Internet that may have kept ad dollars away, Web sites are agreeing to standardize the reporting of ad-viewership numbers, also known as impressions, and for the first time agreeing to have the numbers audited. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. WSJ.com Projects Jason Acebal Has Won Its Election Contest, November 8, 2004 President Bush has won four more years, John Kerry has conceded and -- after days of ballot counting -- the race in Iowa has been decided in the president's favor. It's time to name a winner of the Online Journal's election contest. Congratulations, Jason Acebal. Bloggers Face Life After the Election, November 5, 2004 Now that Election Day has passed, the top political bloggers are wondering if their Web writing will continue to sustain them, or if they'll have to redirect energy to other pursuits. Reporters, Pundits File Real-Time Web Updates, November 3, 2004 A roundup of how Election Day played out online, from exit-poll analyses to Google's curious news judgment. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. A Close Race, but Over Quickly, November 1, 2004 Here's how Online Journal readers expect Tuesday's presidential election to play out: A razor-thin margin for the victor, and a concession speech from his opponent by 8 a.m. EST Wednesday. Enter the WSJ.com Election Contest, October 28, 2004 Do you think you have a better handle on the Election Day outlook than the pollsters? Test your political forecasting skills by entering the Online Journal's presidential election contest. Tech Q&A: Netflix's CEO Is Mobilizing for Battle With Amazon, October 20, 2004 After a rough week for the company he founded, Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings talks about new competitive threats, leading his company's 1,000 employees and the challenges he sees ahead. To the Winners..., October 18, 2004 ...go a lot of spoils -- as well as some bad feelings. A look at how players on baseball's playoff teams divvy up their share of the loot. Written for a special report on the World Series for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Washington's New Ball Club Still Needs an Online Home, October 15, 2004 As the baseball pennant chases unfolded this fall, a different kind of race played out online: a land grab for Web site addresses that might be coveted by Washington, D.C.'s new ball club -- like washingtongrays.net and washingtongrays.com. New Services Are Making It Easier to Hide Who Is Behind Web Sites, September 30, 2004 The number of anonymous sites on the World Wide Web is surging, influencing political contests, raising concerns about criminal activity and spurring debate about privacy on the largely unregulated Internet. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Effort to Broadcast Alerts to Cellphones Gains Steam, September 28, 2004 Long-running efforts to transmit alerts to cellphones in the event of dangerous weather, terror attacks or other emergencies are gaining momentum. Reports on Spam Levels Paint Differing Views of the Problem, September 21, 2004 When Congress debated last year whether to pass an antispam law, statistics on the volume of junk e-mail messages were frequently trotted out as evidence of the clear and present threat. But a closer look at the numbers suggests they may be a shaky foundation for lawmakers -- and companies deciding how best to spend their information-technology dollars -- to rely on. The most referred-to statistics come from reports issued by vendors of antispam software, and their estimates are often wildly divergent. Staging a Comeback, September 7, 2004 Leander Paes may be the best story at this year's U.S. Open. A year ago, the Indian tennis player and national hero was in a hospital bed grateful to be alive. Now a healthy and happy Mr. Paes is launching runs in the men's and mixed draws at Flushing Meadows. Gaining Access, September 3, 2004 How young Republicans and protesters have been exploiting a convention security hole to get into MSG for the speeches. Convention Wire: The Single-Gadget Theory; Private Parties; A Low-Key Protest, September 3, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Reporters try covering the convention with just their cellphones, snapping pictures and filing stories by text message; the liquor flows in MSG's private suites; and a low-key protest. Convention Wire: Blocked Call; Another Round; Yacht's Up With That?, September 2, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: T-Mobile subscribers struggle to receive protest update text messages; this Bud's for conventiongoers; and the GOP unabashedly parties on yachts and yacht clubs. Finding Common Ground, September 1, 2004 Indians and Jews look to form a political alliance, and Republican congressmen in New York look to tap into the groups' outsize influence and fundraising abilities. Convention Wire: Locked Out; On the Other Hand, September 1, 2004 I wrote two of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Protesters can't get near MSG, while delegates hand spare credentials to teens holding signs outside the arena. Get the Word Out, August 31, 2004 Text-messaging has emerged as a major political force in New York, helping protesters swap everything from meeting times and locations to reports on police activity. Some Republican delegates are using similar technology to keep updated on dinners and speeches. Convention Wire: Arnold vs. Arnold; Corporate Relations; Hot Shows, Open Seats; Broadway, Part Two; Information, Please; Hold That Thought; Dissent 101, August 31, 2004 I wrote seven of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Arnold's dual TV roles; activists crash parties; convention makes tickets available for hot Broadway shows; Broadway actors walk-out fizzles; librarians answer demonstrators' questions; Pataki and Bloomberg share a rhetorical device; and protest training sessions. Out and About, August 30, 2004 Walking in and around Times Square with Mississippi delegate Merle Flowers on the eve of the Republican convention. Convention Wire: Confronting Ground Zero, August 30, 2004 I wrote one of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, about a confrontation between a Republican delegate and an anti-Bush protester at Ground Zero. Meet the Bloggers, Part Two, August 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 15 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Republican convention in New York, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, opinions on mainstream media coverage, and what they learned from the Boston bloggers. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. Nokia Takes a Risk in Putting New Phone on the Big Screen, August 26, 2004 In the upcoming film "Cellular," the title character is a snazzy new Nokia Inc. videophone -- the result of a risky product placement by the Finnish cellphone maker. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. SEC May Update Rules Governing IPO 'Quiet Period', August 16, 2004 Google is the latest company to stumble into the murky world of federal rules governing what companies can and can't say prior to a public offering. Now, the SEC is discussing updating the rules. Deborah Solomon co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Interview With Google Founders Is Publicity Boon for Playboy, August 16, 2004 An interview Google's founders gave to Playboy has turned into a regulatory headache for the company, but the magazine is enjoying the burst of publicity. 'Quiet Period' Makes It Tough for Google to Counter Critics, August 11, 2004 Google is in a PR predicament, blitzed with negative or skeptical media coverage about its upcoming IPO but keeping mum because of so-called quiet period rules surrounding an initial public offering. Online Stock Chat Is Lukewarm on Google's IPO, August 5, 2004 Stock message boards, which helped fuel soaring stock prices in the dot-com boom, are throwing cold water on Google's initial public offering. The Trip Down Talk Show Row, July 30, 2004 In the fourth-floor concourse ringing the main Fleet Center hall at the Democratic convention, party luminaries each day walk the conservative talk-radio gauntlet. Microsoft Takes Risk in Unveiling Early Version of Search Engine, July 29, 2004 Microsoft's unusual decision to let the public see an early -- and somewhat flawed -- version of its new Internet search engine has made the company the subject of ridicule. But the software giant may have the last laugh. Hot-Button Issues, July 29, 2004 A photo gallery of some buttons -- and their wearers -- that caught our eyes at the Democratic convention in Boston. Convention Wire: Stood Up, Again; What's He Doing Here?, July 29, 2004 I wrote two of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: DemDates can't get a date; and President Bush appears in Boston. The Daily Views: If You Don't Like Bush, Run, July 29, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: Anna Laitin, organizing informal road races to oust Bush. Convention Wire: 'Scalping' Credentials; This Nomination's for You; Boston Beer Party II, July 28, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: "scalping" credentials outside the Fleet Center; beer signs, but no beer, inside the hall; and neighborhood bars miss Bruins fans. Vying for Attention in Boston, July 27, 2004 Election watchdogs criticize political conventions' party circuit for circumventing campaign-finance laws and giving companies direct access to delegates and congressmen. For Vonage, an Internet-phone company, that opportunity was precisely the attraction. But would partygoers choose Vonage or vodka? Sunshine State Is in Spotlight as Democrats Rally Delegates, July 27, 2004 With the early electoral-college calculus placing a premium on Florida's 27 electoral votes, and memories of the 2000 race fresh, a star-studded lineup gathered at the delegation's hotel in Boston during the Democratic convention to rally the Sunshine State's delegates for the campaign ahead. Democrats Take a Soft Touch in Evoking the Sept. 11 Attacks, July 27, 2004 How would Democrats incorporate the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, into the first national political convention since then? Gently and with restraint. Convention Wire: Freedom From Wet; Sign of the Times; President JibJab?, July 27, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: a security-policy reversal leaves conventiongoers dry; Al-Jazeera's sign spat; and Web searchers vote for JibJab. The Daily Views: Kerry Doesn't Satisfy Antiwar Activist, July 27, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: Jim Mcdonald, an antiwar activist looking for a third-party alternative. Convention Wire: Cub Reporters; Plain Gathering; Reluctant Endorsements, July 26, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: two 12-year-old girls interview Al Franken; Dennis Kucinich keynotes a people's party; and progressive activists reluctantly endorse John Kerry. Unconventional Security, July 26, 2004 Some parts of the security package around the Democratic convention are familiar, mirroring what air travelers encounter every day. But other measures seemed confusing or jarring to the thousands of people making their way into the Fleet Center. Meet the Bloggers, July 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 30 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Democratic convention in Boston, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, approach to the convention and opinions on mainstream media coverage. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. The Daily Views: A 9/11 Family Member Remembers, July 26, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: David Potorti, losing a brother on 9/11 inspired him to found an antiwar group. Tech Q&A: Commerce's New Privacy Chief Sees Regulation as Last Resort, July 19, 2004 Dan Caprio, newly appointed chief privacy officer for the Commerce Department, believes voluntary industry action is the best way to boost Internet security. We talk to Mr. Caprio about his free-market approach to security and privacy, why he recommended against an antispam registry and why he considers his job "fun." Choosing Cell Over Landline Can Bring Unexpected Pain, July 9, 2004 Think twice before you cut the cord. All kinds of services -- from satellite TV to security systems -- require a traditional phone line, and going cell-only can even make it tough to get a credit card or order a pizza. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. Companies Offer Services to Track Cellphone Minutes, July 6, 2004 Avoiding cellphone overage charges can be a major concern for wireless customers. A number of companies are now offering services to help wireless users stay on top of their minute count. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Glory Days, June 28, 2004 After winning an Olympic medal, what do you do for an encore? Profiles of four of the most prominent Olympic athletes of the past 50 years: Bob Mathias, Nadia Comaneci, John Carlos and Al Oerter. Written for a special Encore report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. GPS Technology Has Limits in Locating Hostages in Iraq, June 28, 2004 Satellite technology has been used in the U.S. to track cars, employees, children and even pets. But can it help find soldiers and contractors abducted in Iraq and other hot spots around the globe? Pollsters Debate Merits of Phone, Online Surveys, June 17, 2004 In the political horse race between George W. Bush and John Kerry, does a click or a call better determine America's odds-on favorite? It's a question pollsters hotly debate even as online polling has gained a stronger foothold in gauging public opinion. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. There Could Be No Google Without Edward Kasner, June 14, 2004 The name of this year's hottest IPO, Google, can be traced back to a walk in the woods just after World War I, when a boy told his mathematician uncle what to call the number one followed by a hundred zeros. Search Sites' Decision to Allow Canadian Drug Ads Causes Stir, June 4, 2004 Google and Yahoo are cracking down on the illegitimate sale of pharmaceutical drugs, banning ads from companies that offer drugs like Vicodin and Viagra without a prescription. But the sites plan to continue carrying ads for Canadian pharmacies, even though it is illegal for U.S. customers to buy drugs from them. 'Google Grants' Program Brings Questions From Those Left Out, June 3, 2004 As investors wait for more news on Google's planned IPO, nonprofit groups are anxious for word about the tight-lipped company's Google Grants advertising program -- and some fear they may miss out on the Web windfall. Pick a Portability Number, May 23, 2004 When it comes to so-called number portability, the numbers keep changing. In tallying how many phone numbers have been transferred between carriers from November through April, the FCC bumped up its initial figure twice in just over a week, eventually putting the number of switches a lot higher than initially reported. Entrepreneurs Look for Ways to Exploit Google's Ad System, May 20, 2004 How Web entrepreneurs exploit quirks in Google's popular AdSense advertising system to earn a steady stream of money despite a minimal amount of fresh content. Portability FAQ, Round 2, May 19, 2004 Updated tips for people looking to switch their cellphone carrier while keeping their number. Freeing the Press, May 12, 2004 A newspaper strike in 1994 led to an 11-day online-news experiment. Written for the special report 10 years on the Web for WSJ.com. Web Hits, May 11, 2004 A selection of Page One articles about the Internet, one for each year in the last decade, from a whodunit 10 years ago about a National Weather Service cybergumshoe tracking down Danish hackers, to a profile of a man who loves getting spam e-mail. Written for the special report 10 years on the Web for WSJ.com. Stopping Sasser, May 3, 2004 A guide to removing the Sasser Internet worm. Excerpts From Google's Filing, April 29, 2004 Excerpts and analysis from Google's filing to sell its shares to the public. Google Ad-Policy Change Highlights Trademark Debate, April 22, 2004 Long-simmering trademark concerns in online advertising are coming to a boil, thanks to a planned move by industry leader Google. Lawyers Bid Up Value of Web-Search Ads, April 8, 2004 "Mesothelioma" may be the most valuable word on the Internet. The rare, asbestos-related cancer is the king of search advertising, a Web phenomenon in which companies bid to get their ads placed high on the search-result pages of sites like Yahoo and Google and then pay when users click on them. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. I was also interviewed for NPR's Marketplace program about the article. More on Mesothelioma, April 8, 2004 Hundreds of millions of dollars each year is paid out from asbestos makers to victims of mesothelioma. But far less is spent on research. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. Papers Are Slow to Embrace Plagiarism-Checking Software, April 7, 2004 Can technology stop plagiarized articles before they hit the newsstand? Plagiarism Test, April 6, 2004 So, how well does plagiarism detection software work? We created a phony opinion piece about steroids, and then ran it through software from plagiarism-detection company iParadigms LLC, which compares articles to a database of Web pages, a news archive and academic papers, among other sources. Written as a sidebar for the above article. Reuters to Limit Free Online Business News, April 5, 2004 Reuters is doing away with much of its free business news -- a move that promises to shake up how millions of Internet users keep abreast of the financial world. Charles Goldsmith co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section, and on the front page of The Wall Street Journal Europe. In Bid for Search Traffic, More Sites Launch Toolbars, March 22, 2004 With more search engines offering toolbars with unique features, I take three of the newest ones for a test drive. Web Users Thwart Sites' Efforts to Collect Personal Information, March 22, 2004 Online publishers are increasingly asking users for personal information like location, age, gender and occupation. The reason: Sites generally can charge advertisers more for the ability to reach a targeted audience. But some people derail that goal by intentionally falsifying their user information. Narrowing the Gender Gap, March 15, 2004 Women's basketball has become a powerhouse in college sports -- nowhere more than at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. But, as March Madness shows, big disparities with the men remain. Written for a special report on the NCAA tournament for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Stars of NCAA Basketball Are Students All the Same, March 15, 2004 Many schools make their student e-mail directory available to the public. To see how accessible are college basketball's brightest stars -- who are at the same time celebrities and students -- we delivered five questions to their e-mail addresses. Find out who responded, and what they had to say. Written as an online sidebar for a special report on the NCAA tournament. Jim Chairusmi co-wrote this article. More Web Sites Plan Ads Based on What Users Read, March 12, 2004 More Web sites are tracking their users' behavior to let advertisers serve targeted ads. Among the latest to start doing so: FT.com, Reuters.com and ESPN.com. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Computers, Digital Technology Put Calls of NBA Referees to the Test, March 5, 2004 The fine art of refereeing a professional basketball game is fast becoming a science, thanks to digital technology and stepped-up performance monitoring. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Music Industry Eyes P2P Model in Bid to Promote Legal Sharing, March 2, 2004 Can file-sharing services and record labels coexist? For one day, at least, they did. In a raucous panel at a digital-music conference, a music executive, representatives of peer-to-peer services, and other industry leaders discussed how to channel the intense activity of online music pirates by persuading them to pay for songs. Lycos Hopes New Strategy Connects With Web Users, February 27, 2004 Lycos is still in business and its sites draw millions of visitors, but its profile is significantly lower than it was in the late 1990s. Now, Lycos is metamorphosing -- and shrinking -- again, rebranding itself as a hub of paid services focused on connecting people. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. Tech Q&A: Despite High-Profile Attacks, Web Security Remains Shaky, February 24, 2004 Web security remains a hit-or-miss affair. With other vulnerabilities increasingly protected, hackers are turning to Web applications to access companies' confidential information on customers. We talk to security expert Larry Ponemon about the underlying causes of inadequate security and what consumers should look out for. Calling Portability's Winners Now That Numbers Are In, February 19, 2004 Wireless number portability's winners and losers are shaping up largely as expected: Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile made big gains, while AT&T Wireless appeared to lose ground. Many Cellphone Switchers Ignore 'Number Portability', February 19, 2004 More than half of U.S. wireless customers who switched carriers after so-called number portability rules took effect didn't bother to transfer their numbers. Google Tests E-Mail Marketing, but Market Potential Is Unclear, January 22, 2004 Google's new push into e-mail marketing isn't a slam dunk. Early testers of its new e-mail advertising product, which hasn't been formally launched, say they are mostly pleased with the results. But growing consumer disenchantment with e-mail newsletters may limit the size of the e-mail market. Should the Outcome of a Coin Flip Mean So Much in NFL Overtime?, December 23, 2003 A collection of schemes -- from academics, fans and pro clubs -- to replace the coin toss in determining first possession in NFL overtime games. Proposed Do-Not-Spam Registry Could Pose a Challenge for FTC, December 21, 2003 The new antispam law calls for the FTC to explore the feasibility of a do-not-e-mail list. But critics say most spammers would ignore the registry, or worse, try to hack into it to harvest e-mail addresses. Defenders say the registry would play a crucial role in keeping spam out of consumers' inboxes. Here are answers to some questions about the debate. Live Sports, Online, December 11, 2003 After years of false starts and minor experimentation, live video of pro and college games went online in a big way. But leagues are still cautious. Plus: a chart of current online video offerings of college and pro sports. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Watching Sports on Cellphones May Be Small-Time Broadcasts, December 11, 2003 Live sports action may be coming to cellphones -- but who would want to watch? Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Major League Baseball Faces Webcast Dilemma, December 11, 2003 Webcasts are bringing both money and challenges to Major League Baseball. Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Value Meals, December 10, 2003 A Popeyes franchisee embraces talking, deal-making cash registers as the future of fast food. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Some Say Food Software Could Work Too Well, December 10, 2003 Among the biggest believers in the power of deal-making technology to boost restaurant sales: obesity researchers and critics of fast-food chains. Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Advocates, Critics Weigh In on New Antispam Legislation, November 25, 2003 After passage in the House and Senate, new antispam legislation is headed for President Bush's desk. Critics and advocates of the bill weigh in on its likely effectiveness. At What Cost? Sifting for Value Among Baseball's Free Agents, November 20, 2003 With a stocked market of free agents, baseball's general managers are going on a holiday shopping spree. Among the 210 players who have gone on the open market are catcher Javy Lopez, shortstop Miguel Tejada and pitcher Andy Pettitte. But how to value all of that talent? We provide a guide. Herbert Ouida: Votives Tribute Counters 'Ugliness of That Day', November 19, 2003 Several times since the attacks Mr. Ouida has visited Ground Zero, but he said the cold pit evoked no hope, "just the ugliness of that day." Now that he has glimpsed what is to come, he is happily surprised. He was especially moved by the design called Votives in Suspension. His son Todd was killed in the attacks; his office was destroyed. The first of five reactions to memorial proposals for the site of the World Trade Center, from victims' family members and survivors of the attacks. Meyer Feig: Finding a Sense of a Community in 'Suspending Memory' Design, November 19, 2003 The Suspending Memory memorial design would give visitors the best sense of the community that was lost on Sept. 11, Feig says. Feig's office was destroyed in the attacks. Mary Fetchet: Group Gives Failing Grades to Eight Finalists' Designs, November 19, 2003 Fetchet fails all memorial proposals for one reason: None incorporated access to the bedrock of the World Trade Center site beneath the footprints of the towers. Fetchet's son, stock trader Bradley Fetchet, was killed in the attacks. Monica Iken: Widow of Sept. 11 Victim Finds Eight Winners Among Finalists, November 19, 2003 "I'm blown away," Iken said after seeing the eight memorial proposals. "I could put myself in any one of those and go, wow, I can be there and connect to my husband." Iken's husband, bondtrader Michael Iken, was killed in the attacks. Michael Burke: Memorials Should Reflect Contrast of Good and Evil, November 19, 2003 The proposals for a World Trade Center memorial reflect the loss of life suffered on Sept. 11, 2001, Burke says. But they don't contain a strong sense of good and evil. Burke's brother, fire captain William F. Burke Jr., was killed in the attacks. The Web's Best Sites On Number Portability, November 17, 2003 Links to sites that offer help in choosing a new wireless carrier. The Big Switch, November 17, 2003 What portability means for carriers, handset makers, small businesses and more. Efforts to Expand Net-Tax Ban Make Senate Passage Uncertain, November 6, 2003 What looked several months ago like a routine effort to make permanent a five-year ban on Internet-access taxes has transformed into a bitter congressional battle. Here are answers to some questions about the legislative debate. Small Cellphone Shops Await 'Portability' With Hope, Anxiety, October 28, 2003 Third-party cellphone anticipate a surge in business when portability starts, but many say they are in the dark about how the number transfers will work -- and may be ill-equipped to handle the expected heavy demand. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. Media Trade Associations Debate Value of Advertising, October 27, 2003 In an unusual debate, representatives of the major trade associations for most big media types -- newspapers, magazines, local TV, cable TV, outdoor, online, direct marketing and radio -- gathered to promote the value of their clients to advertisers and media buyers. Radio Reporter Tests Wi-Fi for Filing Stories on the Go, October 17, 2003 Will tomorrow's reporters need a pen, notebook -- and Wi-Fi? ABC News's radio operation is looking to find out, through a current trial here and in Washington, D.C., using the wireless Internet technology. A day with one of its reporters shows the flexibility of Wi-Fi, but also its technological glitches. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Failure Rate for eBay Searches Leaves Some Sellers Rankled, October 7, 2003 Occasional glitches with the search function on eBay have frustrated some sellers, but the site so dominates the online-auction space that competitors are unlikely to benefit. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Label Urges Ben Harper Fans to Share Tracks, but Not Steal, September 25, 2003 In a marketing twist, Virgin Records is encouraging online sharing among fans of musician Ben Harper -- but no files are changing hands. Tech Q&A: Keeping Up With Hackers, Viruses, September 24, 2003 Hackers and virus writers have gotten faster at their craft, sparking a wave of worm attacks. We talk to computer security expert Gerhard Eschelbeck about the outlook for consumers and companies looking to keep their computers secure. Buzzless Tech Trade Show Has Some Small Treasures, September 17, 2003 The technology sector may be showing signs of a rebound, but that hasn't translated into much buzz at the TechXNY technology trade show and conference. Still, some gadgets from smaller tech companies caught our eye, including a pen-shaped scanner that reads and translates typewritten text, and software for connecting conference attendees that works like online dating services. Dow Jones Newswires' Donna Fuscaldo co-wrote this article. Crunching Number Portability, September 10, 2003 After years of delays, wireless customers will soon be able to keep their phone numbers when they switch carriers. But portability is fraught with complications, and carriers are still scrambling to figure out how the system will work. Will it happen by the November deadline? Is my town covered? And other frequently asked questions. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. (I also contributed to this related article by Jane Spencer, which appeared on the front page of the Personal Journal section.) Accelerators Breathe New Life Into Dial-Up Internet Service, September 10, 2003 Will dial-up have a second act? Hundreds of thousands of Internet users have signed up for "acceleration services," which use technological tricks to speed up a traditional dial-up Internet connection. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Will the Music Industry Sue Your Kid?, September 10, 2003 This week's lawsuits by the record industry have raised concerns for the tens of millions of Americans (and their parents) who swap music regularly. Here are some of the basic questions and answers about who should be worried, and why. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. (Also at this free site.) An Unlikely Crowd Favorite Reaches Open Quarterfinals, September 5, 2003 Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui advanced to the quarterfinals at tennis's U.S. Open and, in the process, solidified his unlikely role as a crowd favorite. At Age 14, Tennis Phenom Julia Cohen Is Set on Pros, September 2, 2003 Julia Cohen, 14 years old, says she hates school and hates the prospect of going to college even more. That may be the ideal attitude for her career of choice: professional tennis. A Rainy Day at the U.S. Open: Virtual Tennis & Backgammon, September 2, 2003 A light but steady rain delayed most matches at the U.S. Open on Monday, but there was plenty of action off the courts, from fans and players competing in virtual tennis matches to umpires in heated backgammon competition. Here are some snapshots of a rainy day at Flushing Meadows. Online News Publishers Showed Gains in 2nd Quarter, August 24, 2003 The rising online-ad market is lifting news publishers' results, based on their second-quarter figures. Big Online Publishers Flirt With Context-Based Ads, August 22, 2003 Big news organizations are taking their shot at an advertising segment that has been a home run for Web-search engines: short text ads keyed to a reader's interests. Weather Sites Run Ads Based on Local Conditions, August 21, 2003 Online weather sites are experimenting with ads that are triggered by local weather conditions. Getting Unplugged Sheds Light on What Is Wired These Days, August 18, 2003 For the better part of a decade, the digital dream has been a wireless, cashless, instantly connected society. But when the lights went out on Thursday, one thing was clear: When you're unplugged, even very simple tasks can prove to be impossible. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Susan Warren and Melanie Trottman were lead writers on the piece; I contributed two paragraphs and took the photo of George Zamfotis that was turned into a dot drawing. Small Web Advertisers Dash as News Breaks, August 17, 2003 When David Morison learned about the power blackout, he knew immediately what he should do: buy paid-search advertisements. Acting fast, his small business scored prime Web real estate by targeting search ads to news. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) High-Tech Takes Back Seat to Candles, Flashlights, Radio, August 15, 2003 The blackout forced many people to adjust to 24 hours without modern comforts and technologies. Enter candles, portable radios, rooftop slumbers and other flashbacks to an earlier era. Jennifer Saranow contributed to this article. Internet Bug Is a Boon to Tech-Security Firms, August 15, 2003 The Blaster computer worm, which has attacked hundreds of thousands of computers world-wide, has boosted business at computer-security firms as consumers and small businesses scramble to protect themselves. Josef Federman and Jennifer Saranow contributed to this article. Terror Readiness Site Ready.gov Slowly Expands Beyond English, July 29, 2003 Como se dice "duct tape"? For the millions of Americans who don't read English well, the federal government doesn't have the answer -- at least not at terror-preparedness site Ready.gov. Like most federal-government sites, it's only available in English. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Roto-Rooter Is Flush With New Technology, July 17, 2003 GPS phones are taking their place alongside wrenches and hand-snakes as essential plumbers' tools. Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest plumbing company, is using satellite technology to dispatch its technicians. First Impressions: TV Commercials Go Online, but Will Surfers Tune In?, July 8, 2003 Television commercials are coming to your desktop, thanks to better technology and faster Internet connections. Will viewers tune in or tune out? Key Questions in Crackdown on File Sharing by Music Firms, June 30, 2003 Answers to pressing questions about the music industry's crackdown on online music swappers: Who will be targeted? When is file sharing illegal? Will the crackdown work? And more. Fun and Funky Gadgets From CeBIT's U.S. Debut, June 20, 2003 Gadgets at CeBIT America were more sparse than at the flagship German trade show, but a handful of offbeat gizmos managed to get our attention. Katherine Meyer contributed to this article. Local Governments Look to Cellphone-Based Alerts, June 12, 2003 Could cellphone text messages save lives? Emergency alert systems that would allow governments to send text messages to wireless devices have gained traction in recent months. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Ballparks Let Fans Order Food From Seats by Using Cellphones, June 4, 2003 Every other entertainment venue is trying to ban cellphones these days, but not the ballpark. Around the country, teams are encouraging fans to use their phones to do more than just call up their buddy in seat F34 and wave. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Creative Offerings May Be Key to Get Messaging Off the Bench, June 3, 2003 In-stadium cellphone applications using text-messaging and wireless Internet are part of a broader strategy by wireless carriers to lure Americans to thumb away on their handsets. This article and the following one were written as an online sidebar for the above article. Tech Q&A: Mike Veeck, co-owner of five minor-league baseball teams, June 3, 2003 Mike Veeck has never met a baseball promotion he didn't like -- unless it involved technology. But now he's come full-circle, and is on the cutting edge of in-stadium cellphone food-ordering. New Voicemail Services Hope to Challenge Answering Machine, May 27, 2003 AOL and Microsoft hope their new voicemail offerings will bring the age of the machine to a close. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. How Do You Narrow Your Product Options?, March 17, 2003 The founders of HandyLab developed a groundbreaking medical-testing device -- but how does a small company decide which market to target? Written for a small-business special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) Baseball Plans Webcast of Games, Blacking Out Fans' Local Teams, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball plans to Webcast nearly 1,000 games this season -- but it will use Internet-location technology to black out most viewers' home teams. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. MLB.TV Signals New Interest in Broadband Video Offerings, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball's planned offering of live, streaming video of about 1,000 games is the clearest sign yet of a reinvigorated Webcasting market. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. In Face of Illegible Name Tags, Some Boomers Cry, No More!, February 14, 2003 Fed up with hard-to-read name tags and their own deteriorating vision, a coalition of baby boomers is demanding that business-conference organizers make identification badges more legible. IAEA's ElBaradei Believes Iraq Isn't Mission Impossible, December 17, 2002 Mohamed ElBaradei must overcome steep odds to uncover any nuclear-weapons program that Iraq has developed. But the International Atomic Energy Agency's chief believes diplomacy -- and a tougher U.N. resolution -- will help him to succeed. Jody Shenn co-wrote this article. The Best Way to ...Fill Prescriptions, November 18, 2002 It's easy to get a prescription drug online, but is it safe and legal?. Written for a special report on the Internet for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Search Engines Face Ad Dilemma, November 18, 2002 Web sites that run ads for shady online pharmacies may be in store for a collective headache. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. Sell First, Advertise Later, October 21, 2002 Business-to-business ads on the Web have lagged behind consumer ads. But that's starting to change. Written for an e-commerce special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Finding the Right Target, October 21, 2002 Segmenting is poised to be the next big thing in online advertising. But will advertisers and Web users buy into it? Written as an online sidebar for the above article. Getting Your Money Back: You've been ripped off. Now what do you do?, September 16, 2002 Internet fraud is a growing affliction, threatening to erase consumer confidence in e-commerce. Here's what to do if you've been ripped off. Written for an e-commerce special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. It Shoots, It Scores! Robots Play Soccer, June 20, 2002 Robotic dogs and humanoids battle it out for android soccer supremacy at RoboCup 2002 in Japan. Flashback: Sex-Change Operation Leaves Kansas Man's Estate in Dispute, June 12, 2002 In this installment of an online feature updating Page One articles, I look at the case of a Kansas estate dispute centering around the gender of the woman who claims the estate. She was born a man, then underwent a sex-change operation. Kansas courts rule she remains a man; she plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, lawyers and transgendered activists watch on intently. The Official World Cup Web In Delayed Match Fragments, May 31, 2002 Time differences of up to 12 hours may make this the Internet's best World Cup, with rooters going online to get scores, analysis and -- in a Cup first -- video streams while at work or from home. Fans Try Out New Web Applications for Play-By-Play of Baseball Games, April 17, 2002 A survey of Web applications for following baseball games online, along with an opinionated guide to the leading options. MLB.com Offers Fans of Baseball Shorter Version of the Old Ball Game, April 3, 2002 Baseball fans will be able to watch 20-minute fast-forwarded video of games on the league's official website, thanks to the latest video-editing technology and one of baseball's oldest traditions: the stringer. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top News MarketWatch Co-Founder Ends SEC Stock Case, January 11, 2005 The co-founder and former editor-in-chief of the CBS MarketWatch financial news Web site will pay more than $540,000 to settle charges that he repeatedly used an investment newsletter to promote stocks he owned and intended to sell. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. BBC Is Victim of Hoax in Report on Bhopal, December 6, 2004 The BBC was forced to retract part of a high-profile report marking the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal chemical disaster, after the broadcaster interviewed a prankster posing as a Dow Chemical spokesman. The hoax appears to be the work of two veteran saboteurs who target corporations and government organizations and have gone after Dow Chemical before. AOL Plans Service to Scour Internet for Travel Deals, November 12, 2004 America Online plans to enter the crowded online travel market early next year with a free service it claims will search dozens of Web sites for the best deals. Pollsters Generally Had It Right, but Missed Some Key Battles, November 3, 2004 National pollsters accurately captured the broad outlines of the presidential election, but surveys in some closely contested states missed the target and early exit-poll numbers led observers astray. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. AOL to Offer Antivirus Tools Without an Additional Charge, October 28, 2004 America Online plans to offer McAfee's antivirus software to all of its customers at no additional charge, the latest move by the Internet giant to try to stem subscriber defections. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Technical Problems at PayPal Cause Troubles for eBay Users, October 11, 2004 Technical difficulties at PayPal triggered outages for eBay Inc.'s electronic payment service throughout the weekend and Monday, preventing many online shoppers from paying for items they purchased on eBay and rankling some of the site's most-active merchants. Nick Wingfield co-wrote this article. Cheney Mix-Up Leads Surfers to Anti-Bush Site Run by Soros, October 7, 2004 At the vice presidential debate, Cheney suggested viewers visit the site factcheck.com, when he meant factcheck.org. The dot-com site is owned by a Cayman Islands company that it acquires discarded Web sites and monetizes the traffic with text advertising; the owners redirected traffic to the anti-Bush site georgesoros.com. Nicholas Zamiska co-wrote this article. (Jennifer Johnson wrote the other three items in "Campaign Posts," a recurring feature looking at how the campaign is playing out online.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Losing Cellphone No Longer Means Loss of Contacts, October 6, 2004 New tools are making it easier for cellphone users who lose or break their phones to piece back together their phonebooks. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Campaigns Ratchet Up Online Spin for Debate, September 30, 2004 Both presidential campaigns took to the Internet to spin the first presidential debate well before the candidates began trading barbs in Miami. The DNC e-mailed supporters encouraging them to visit media sites immediately after the debate and cast their votes for Kerry in online surveys aimed at picking the debate's winner. The Bush campaign, meanwhile, urged conservative bloggers to incorporate a live "debate feed" on their Web sites that would rebut Kerry's statements. Digit: Miss That Game-Winning Play? Click to MLB.com for Highlights, September 23, 2004 If you missed seeing the 700th career home run slugged by Barry Bonds -- or even if you didn't -- Major League Baseball is betting you'll consider shelling out 99 cents to download a video highlight of the milestone. (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Online-Ad Revenue Hit Record in Second Quarter, September 21, 2004 Online-ad revenue was a record $2.37 billion in the second quarter as the industry continued to push past the levels reached during the dot-com boom. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Viacom Makes Buyout Bid For Struggling SportsLine, July 1, 2004 SportsLine.com, one of the first companies to build a business around providing content on the Web, has received an offer from media conglomerate Viacom to buy the balance of its stock for about $42.6 million. Online Advertising Hits Record in First Quarter, May 24, 2004 Internet advertising revenue reached about $2.3 billion in the first quarter, a record for a single quarter, in the latest sign the industry is poised this year to surpass its bubble-era peak. SportsLine to Explore 'Strategic Alternatives', May 20, 2004 SportsLine.com, which has largely missed out on the improving fortunes of other Internet publishers, indicated it was putting itself up for sale. NBA Announces Deal to Feed Highlights to Nokia Cellphones, May 3, 2004 The NBA announced a deal with Nokia to stream nightly 20-second video highlights clips to high-end Nokia cellphones, starting with the league's championship series next month. CNET Launches Music Site, April 26, 2004 As part of a strategy to lure Internet users to a hub of music, games and other content, CNET launched a Web site allowing independent bands to upload their music -- and Internet users to sample and download it. Net Advertisers Favor Deals That Charge Only for Clicks, April 21, 2004 Online advertisers are flocking to deals where they pay each time an ad is clicked, rather than each time an ad is shown, new industry research shows. GarageBand to Revive Old MP3.com Archive, April 18, 2004 GarageBand.com plans to revive a large archive of independent bands' songs stored on MP3.com, tunes that were feared lost following the recent sale of some of that site's assets to CNET. SEC Subpoenas Trading Records of Four MarketWatch Executives, April 7, 2004 MarketWatch.com said the SEC has subpoenaed stock-trading records of four of its executives, including its chief executive and its editor-in-chief, as part of the probe into former columnist Thom Calandra. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Thomson Taps MarketWatch to Replace Reuters Content, April 1, 2004 Thomson Financial moved to replace financial news from Reuters Group PLC with content from MarketWatch.com on computer terminals of financial-services clients, signaling heightened rivalry between Thomson and Reuters. AT&T Wireless Lowers Prices on Plans, Cellphones, April 1, 2004 AT&T Wireless is rolling out cheaper calling plans and free fancy phones, in a bid to steady its shaky subscriber base ahead of its planned acquisition by Cingular Wireless. Jesse Drucker co-wrote this article. Research Firm Sees 29% Rise in Local Online Ads This Year, March 31, 2004 Online-ad spending by local businesses in the U.S. will increase by 29% this year, well ahead of the expected industry-wide growth rate, according to a media research and consulting firm. For One Sports Fan in Spain, March Madness Begets Pain, March 25, 2004 Getting to watch 55 out of 56 early-round NCAA tournament games ain't bad -- unless you're a Duke fan living in Seville, Spain, and your team's game is the one missing. Microsoft Sets Two-Year Deal to Stream Baseball Webcasts, March 23, 2004 Microsoft has struck a two-year agreement with Major League Baseball's online arm to offer the league's extensive video and audio content to Microsoft's high-speed Internet subscribers, in an unusually large deal for Internet content. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Dining at the Captain's Table? Please Turn Off Your Cellphone, March 17, 2004 The next frontier for cellphone service: international waters. AT&T Wireless has formed a joint venture with Maritime Telecommunications Network to sell wireless service to cruise operators. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. AOL Offers a New Service for Last-Minute Bill Paying, March 16, 2004 AOL launched a new bill-paying tool as part of its efforts to distinguish itself from lower-priced Internet providers and shore up its declining subscriber base. SportsLine to Offer Webcasts in 'March Madness' Package, March 16, 2004 If CBS's blanket television coverage doesn't slake the thirst of college-hoops fans, enthusiasts can turn to Webcasts for more March Madness. SportsLine.com is offering a $9.95 subscription plan that will allow users with high-speed Internet connections to watch dozens of games in the busy early rounds of the men's NCAA basketball tournament. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Martha Stewart Living Stock Takes a Roller-Coaster Ride, March 6, 2004 Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went on a roller-coaster ride, with the stock surging as much as 20% ahead of a verdict in the trial of the company's founder, but then plunged after trading resumed following a half-hour halt surrounding the reading of that guilty verdict. (Also contributed to this related ">Heard on the Street column, which appeared on the front page of the Money & Investing section March 8.) Study, FCC Numbers Show Portability Picture Improving, March 1, 2004 The process of transferring cellphone numbers to a new carrier has gotten markedly better, but more than one in seven switches still go awry, according to a survey of wireless retailers. The latest figures from the FCC on consumer complaints about so-called number portability paint a similar picture. Online-Ad Revenue Sets Record After Long Slump, February 13, 2004 Online-ad revenue in the U.S. rose 38% to a record $2.2 billion in the fourth quarter, beating Internet-bubble results. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Comcast Talks Up Benefits Of Merger With Disney, February 11, 2004 Breaking down the motivation behind Comcast's bombshell bid for Disney. AT&T Wireless Leads in Portability Complaints, January 29, 2004 AT&T Wireless, which is soliciting acquisition offers, was named in nearly half of consumer complaints about transferring cellphone numbers between carriers, according to figures by the FCC. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. MarketWatch Plans Spot Checks of Some Employees' Portfolios, January 28, 2004 In a move sparked by the resignation of its co-founder amid inquiries into his stock trading, MarketWatch.com is requiring all employees to register their stock trades with the company. Also, for its financial journalists and senior executives, the company will conduct random audits to verify their trading information. The Leading Cellular Service -- in Customer Complaints, January 27, 2004 AT&T Wireless has won a dubious distinction in an industry that consumers love to gripe about. For the past year, the wireless provider consistently has had the highest customer complaint rate of any national carrier, according to complaints received by the FCC and obtained by The Wall Street Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request. Jesse Drucker co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. RealNetworks to Stop Providing Services to Baseball Web Site, February 5, 2004 RealNetworks plans to stop providing the back-end technology for online audio and video content from Major League Baseball, straining its relationship with one of its flagship partners. Washington Post's Web Site to Require User Registration, February 3, 2004 After resisting such a move for years, the Washington Post's Web site will require all readers to register and provide additional personal information. AOL Launches Brand Aimed at Teenage Users, February 3, 2004 America Online launched an online service for teenagers, the latest move by the No. 1 U.S. Internet service to target specific groups of customers. MarketWatch's Co-Founder Resigns, January 23, 2004 Financial-news publisher MarketWatch.com said former editor-in-chief and co-founder Thom Calandra has resigned in the face of internal and Securities and Exchange Commission informal inquiries into his trading activities. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. AOL Will Let Broadband Users Download Movies, January 21, 2004 The 99-cent download is no longer just for music. For a limited time, America Online high-speed users will be able to view popular films for under a dollar though an agreement with Movielink, a digital-film venture backed by five major studios. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Attendees Fight Lines at Electronics Show, January 11, 2004 The crowds at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas underscore growing interest in home gadgets, especially flat-screen TVs equipped to connect to the Web and other devices. CES Notebook: Couch Potatoes Need Not Play, January 9, 2004 Meet Xavix, a videogame system that promises to make gamers sweat. Plus, Netscape's second act; the tricky nomenclature of USB flash drives; RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser warns the film industry; and other news and notes from the big Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Fossil and Suunto's Smart Watch to Use Microsoft's MSN Direct, January 9, 2004 A year after first announcing the technology for a smart watch -- capable of accessing weather and news updates, instant messages and Outlook calendars -- Microsoft introduced the watches at the Consumer Electronics Show. CES Notebook: New Oven Takes Orders From Net, January 8, 2004 In a next-generation home on the grounds of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, an oven that can both cool and heat food anchors the futuristic kitchen. Plus, a home-security robot that can send pictures to your cellphones; the Energizer Bunny drums up attention; CES's high Taxi Index; and other news and notes from the big gadgets show. MSN Plans Video-Ads Push With Release of New Version, January 8, 2004 Microsoft's MSN online service is making a bid for a share of the growing online market for video advertising, as more advertisers take their television spots to the Web. Verizon Wireless Leads Customer-Satisfaction Survey, January 7, 2004 Verizon Wireless swept the latest ranking of cellular-telephone carriers by Consumer Reports magazine. The survey takes on added importance as consumers can now keep their phone numbers when they change carriers -- removing a significant hurdle to switching. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Kanoodle Looks to Battle Google in Sale of Contextual Advertising, December 17, 2003 Kanoodle.com, a closely held paid-search advertising company, said it will compete with industry leaders Google and Yahoo in the burgeoning business of supplying pay-per-click text advertisements to Web publishers. NFL Extends Online Deal With Foot Locker's Web Arm, December 1, 2003 The NFL announced that it has extended for five years a deal with Footlocker.com to handle the league's catalog and online sales. Portability Notebook: Portability Problems Persist, Raising Questions for Carriers, December 2, 2003 A week after rules took effect letting cellphone users take their number to a new carrier, major glitches continue to plague the process. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Switching Wireless Clients See Delays, November 26, 2003 Many wireless customers have run into delays in their efforts to switch carriers under new number-portability rules. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Cellphone Stores Report Mixed Signals on Portability, November 24, 2003 On the first day of portability, cellphone stores report light demand. Plus two items from Jen Ryan and Michelle Rama of Dow Jones Newswires. A version of this article co-written by Jesse Drucker appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Online-Ad Seller WhenU Wins Another Court Round, November 20, 2003 A federal judge ruled that WhenU, an online-ad seller, wasn't violating the trademarks nor copyrights of Wells Fargo and Quicken Loans by displaying competitive ads to Internet users when they accessed those companies' Web sites. Time Warner's AOL Launches Audio, Video Search Feature, November 19, 2003 America Online launched an audio and video search feature, part of a broader effort to attract broadband customers with content such as music clips, movie trailers and sports highlights. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. CNET to Buy MP3.com Assets From Vivendi's U.S. Net Unit, November 14, 2003 CNET Networks signed a deal to acquire the assets of MP3.com from Vivendi Universal's U.S. Internet unit, marking the end of a storied name in online music, at least in its current incarnation. Online-Ad Sales Continue Upswing, November 11, 2003 Online-ad sales rose 14% in the second quarter from the year-earlier period, another sign that the industry is rebounding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Sendmail to Sell Antispam Tool From Newcomer Cloudmark, November 3, 2003 Sendmail, a provider of corporate tools for handling e-mail, announced a partnership with start-up Cloudmark to sell that company's antispam software in an effort to get a piece of the growing market for fighting junk e-mail. E-Mail Services Firm IronPort Announces New VC Funding, October 27, 2003 IronPort Systems announced that it has secured an additional $14 million in financing, in another sign that the flood of spam into e-mail users' inboxes is accelerating demand for weapons to fight it. Primedia Agrees to Sell Web-Ad Unit to Google, October 26, 2003 Primedia said it reached a deal to sell its online-advertising unit Sprinks to Google, solidifying Google's position in the growing business of supplying pay-per-click text advertisements to Web publishers. FCC Portability Guidelines Don't Address Landline Switches, October 8, 2003 The FCC clarified some uncertainties about rules allowing cellphone users to keep their phone numbers while switching carriers, but didn't address crucial questions about switching numbers between landlines and cellphones. A version of this article co-written by Dow Jones Newswires' Mark Wigfield appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Major League Baseball Sells Downloads of Playoff Games, October 7, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site is selling downloadable video of playoff games to be viewed on their computer or burned to a CD, for $3.95 a game. America Online Launches New Service AOL Latino, October 1, 2003 In a bid to expand its market share in the burgeoning cohort of U.S. Hispanics, America Online introduced a revamped and expanded version of its Spanish-language AOL Latino service. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. MSN Boosts Use of Overture Ads Despite Its Rivalry With Yahoo, September 23, 2003 MSN has expanded its use of paid-search ads from Overture, despite plans for Overture to be acquired by MSN rival Yahoo. Baseball Hopes to Entice Fans With New Web Pricing, September 18, 2003 With playoff races heating up, Major League Baseball is cutting prices for its Webcasts to $1 a day and beaming two games at once. Cloudmark Plans System to Let Good E-Mail Avoid Spam Filters, September 18, 2003 Legitimate e-mail advertising and newsletters, increasingly a casualty of the spam wars, may get a boost. Cloudmark introduced a program that aims to prevent legitimate commercial e-mail messages from getting blocked as unsolicited junk mail. Stacy Forster co-wrote this article. Sports Illustrated Restricts Access to Part of Web Site, September 11, 2003 Sports Illustrated has placed new restrictions on its online edition, granting access to much of its content exclusively to subscribers of the magazine. It is the latest move by AOL Time Warner to drive magazine subscriptions through its Web sites. America Online Ad Chief Apologizes to Advertisers, September 10, 2003 In her first public appearance since becoming head of America Online's ad sales, Lisa Brown issued a mea culpa to advertisers. AstraZeneca Plans Online Push for New Cholesterol Drug Crestor, September 1, 2003 AstraZeneca plans to advertise Crestor, its new cholesterol-lowering drug, on three popular U.S. Web sites this week, in an unusual pharmaceutical marketing strategy: It is targeting potential users of the drug before making sales pitches to their doctors. The Wall Street Journal's Scott Hensley contributed to this article. South Lags Behind Rest of U.S. in Internet Usage, August 28, 2003 Internet usage is rising steadily among adults across the U.S., but Southern states continue to lag behind the rest of country, according to a new study. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. AOL Broadband Service Plans to Offer NFL Game Highlights, August 26, 2003 The NFL and America Online announced a deal to provide video previews and highlights for every game to subscribers of AOL's broadband Internet service. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. RealNetworks and Sprint PCS to Unveil Cellphone Media Offer, August 11, 2003 RealNetworks and Sprint PCS announced a package of paid audio and visual content, an important test of U.S. cellphone users' appetite for multimedia services. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Merrill Brown Resigns as Chief of RealNetworks' Content Efforts, July 31, 2003 RealNetworks' Merrill Brown plans to leave the company in late August, citing a shift in his job responsibilities. Brown is in charge of the company's online subscription services. Woofing for Youth, July 24, 2003 Bow Wow: rapper, actor -- computer addict? The performer, age 16, touted Computers for Youth, a not-for-profit group that distributes computers to New York City middle-school students and provides technical training and support. (Last item) MarketWatch Plans To Acquire Pinnacor, July 23, 2003 MarketWatch.com agreed to acquire Pinnacor, a provider of financial information and analysis tools, for about $103 million in cash and stock. Separately, MarketWatch posted a narrower second-quarter loss. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. IBM in Sponsor Deal With NFL That Includes Archiving Video, July 22, 2003 The NFL is going high-tech, partnering with IBM to digitize its video archives and explore new consumer offerings like video on demand. IBM will also become an NFL sponsor. First Impressions: ING Direct Campaign Captures Attention of Online-Ad Industry, July 21, 2003 ING Direct plans to debut a TV ad on the Web six weeks before it hits the U.S. airwaves. The move signals the growing use of the Internet to deliver sophisticated branding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Consumer Reports Picks Top Antispam Software, July 9, 2003 In the first-ever ratings of junk-e-mail-blocking software by the influential Consumer Reports magazine, the top spot was nabbed by SAProxy, a free program from a little-known start-up. MLB.com Hits 5 Million Ballots For 'Last Man' All-Star Voting, July 8, 2003 MLB.com has registered more than five million ballots cast by fans for the final two players to make baseball's All-Star Game. Boston's Jason Varitek and Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins lead in early voting. MLB.com Sees Record Number of Ballots Cast for All-Star Game, July 3, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site registered 4.6 million ballots for the All-Star Game, a record number and an increase of more than 50% over last year's total. Web-Ad Provider WhenU Wins Round in U-Haul Case, July 1, 2003 A federal judge ruled in favor of WhenU, an online-ad seller, in a case brought by U-Haul. The suit claimed WhenU displayed ads for other companies, including competitors, to users of U-Haul's Web site. Make 'Number Portability' Easy, Says Chief of Verizon Wireless, June 24, 2003 Verizon Wireless's CEO called on the rest of the wireless industry to make it easy for their customers to keep their numbers when switching carriers, and said it would charge such customers no fees for switching. DoCoMo USA Chief Urges U.S. Carriers to Offer 3G, June 20, 2003 U.S. wireless carriers should launch next-generation services to increase market share, the chief of NTT DoCoMo's U.S. unit said. But the Japanese company's experience with 3G underscores the challenges other carriers likely will face. MLB.com Sees 1,700 Downloads of Game Video of Clemens Outing, June 17, 2003 About 1,700 fans paid $3.95 each to download the entire game video of Roger Clemens's 300th victory from Major League Baseball's Web site. Major League Baseball to Sell Downloads of Entire Games, June 12, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site is testing a novel way of selling video: letting fans download video of an entire game to be viewed on their computer or burned to a CD. Online-Ad Sales Show Signs of Return to Growth, June 12, 2003 Online-ad revenue showed a healthy sequential increase in the fourth quarter of 2002, reversing two years of declines, according to revised numbers compiled by an industry trade group. (Also at this free site.) ABC News, RealNetworks Set Streaming-Video Deal, June 10, 2003 ABC News and RealNetworks announced a multiyear deal that expands their longtime partnership and makes RealNetworks the only multimedia hub with access to ABC News's around-the-clock online Webcast. WNBA, RealNetworks Strike Deal to Stream Video of Games, June 6, 2003 RealNetworks and the WNBA said they have reached a multiyear deal to Webcast at least 10 women's basketball games per season as part of a new subscription service. WebFN to Shut Down Streaming Video Operation, May 30, 2003 WebFN plans to shut down its streaming-video operations Friday after nearly three years of broadcasts, making it the latest online video-news operation to close. WNBA to Stream Video of Game Over Internet, May 30, 2003 The WNBA will stream the video of a game over the Internet, a first for the seven-year-old league and an apparent first for women's professional sports. 'American Idol' Gives Lift to Text Messaging, May 23, 2003 AT&T Wireless's chief said 2.5 million votes were cast by wireless text messaging during Wednesday's finale of "American Idol." He said the service experienced strong growth over the course of the four-month series. AOL Says Broadband Users Rapidly Joining New Service, May 6, 2003 AOL Time Warner's launch of the latest version of America Online has been well ahead of company forecasts and interest has been especially strong among high-speed Internet users, a company executive said at a conference in New York. Blockbuster CEO Makes Case for Rentals as Antipiracy Tool, May 5, 2003 Blockbuster's CEO said video rental acts as a powerful deterrent to piracy "because we have legally satisfied consumers' appetite for entertainment." Overstock CEO Takes Blame Amid Weak Results, Stock Slide, April 30, 2003 Blame me. That's what the chief executive, chairman and largest shareholder of Overstock.com Inc. effectively told Wall Street following the Internet retailer's weak first-quarter results -- which knocked its already depressed stock lower and came shortly after the company completed a follow-on stock offering. NBA Takes a Shot at HD Television, April 29, 2003 The NBA plans to air two hours of daily high-definition television, in the latest move by sports programmers to lure more fans to buy HD sets and subscribe to HD services. Some Sports Web Sites Add War Coverage to Mix, March 31, 2003 How sports Web sites are grappling with how to cover news from Iraq; the top item in the latest Web at War column, about how the war in Iraq is taking shape online. SportsLine Wins NCAA Deal, Will Sell Gambling Operations, February 26, 2003 SportsLine.com was selected by CBS Sports to publish the sites for 66 collegiate sports championships, including men's basketball, in a deal that underlines the value of online tie-ins for mainstream advertisers. Consumer Reports Finds Trans Fats in Many Foods, February 11, 2003 Spotlighting the hidden presence of trans fats in many popular packaged foods, Consumer Reports magazine has found substantial amounts of the unhealthy substance in items including breakfast cereal and frozen waffles. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Big Internet Players Show New Interest in Weblogs, February 5, 2003 Terra Lycos's Tripod quietly introduced its Blog Builder last week, marking increased interest by big Internet players in the fast-growing world of Weblogs. AOL may not be far behind. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. HotBot Relaunches in Move to Regain Search Ranking, December 16, 2002 Terra Lycos is relaunching HotBot, an early Web search favorite among techies, in a move to boost revenue from paid listings. U.S., Canada Pharmacy Groups Seek to Deter Exporting of Drugs, November 13, 2002 Striking a blow against the practice of importing cheap prescription drugs from Canada, U.S. and Canadian professional pharmacy associations plan to launch a certification program for Internet pharmacies based in Canada that purposely will exclude any pharmacies that ship to the U.S. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Selling MSN, October 25, 2002 Microsoft's plastering of several Manhattan neighborhoods with decals for the release of MSN 8 didn't sit well with some business owners. We had this story the day before the AP reported that New York told the company to remove the ads. Back to Top Tech Q&As Interviews with experts and corporate executives on the cutting edge of technology. Microsoft's Secret Codes, December 22, 2004 Microsoft analyst Paul DeGroot discusses the software giant's setback in an EU court, the ruling's impact on business buyers, and security implications. Netflix's CEO Is Mobilizing for Battle With Amazon, October 20, 2004 After a rough week for the company he founded, Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings talks about new competitive threats, leading his company's 1,000 employees and the challenges he sees ahead. Commerce's New Privacy Chief Sees Regulation as Last Resort, July 19, 2004 Dan Caprio, newly appointed chief privacy officer for the Commerce Department, believes voluntary industry action is the best way to boost Internet security. We talk to Mr. Caprio about his free-market approach to security and privacy, why he recommended against an antispam registry and why he considers his job "fun." Despite High-Profile Attacks, Web Security Remains Shaky, February 24, 2004 Web security remains a hit-or-miss affair. With other vulnerabilities increasingly protected, hackers are turning to Web applications to access companies' confidential information on customers. We talk to security expert Larry Ponemon about the underlying causes of inadequate security and what consumers should look out for. Keeping Up With Hackers, Viruses, September 24, 2003 Hackers and virus writers have gotten faster at their craft, sparking a wave of worm attacks. We talk to computer security expert Gerhard Eschelbeck about the outlook for consumers and companies looking to keep their computers secure. Tennis Group Shows Off Web Technology at U.S. Open, August 28, 2003 From instant scoring to Web video, the U.S. Open prides itself on being high-tech. We talked to Ezra Kucharz, managing director of advanced media for the tennis association that oversees the tournament. Wall Street Firms Curb Access to Personal E-Mail, August 13, 2003 An increasing number of financial-services firms are blocking their workers from accessing personal e-mail accounts from America Online, Yahoo, Hotmail and others. We talk with Raymond James's vice president of information security, Gene Fredriksen, about why his firm is going to start blocking personal e-mail accounts next month, how he'll do it and what the new rules cost. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe, on the front page of the Money & Investing section. Macromedia CEO Says Flash Will Soon Be Found in Phones, July 22, 2003 Macromedia CEO Burgess talks about Flash-enabled cellphones and why he thinks Web sites have come a long way in their use of Flash. Search Watcher Sullivan Dissects Overture Deal, July 14, 2003 Danny Sullivan, the editor of industry newsletter Search Engine Watch, spoke with me about the Yahoo-Overture deal, what it means for competitors, and what may be next in the online-ad space. MmO2 Tests 3G Waters on Remote Isle of Man, June 23, 2003 On the tiny Isle of Man, the future of wireless is taking shape. That, at least, is the hope of British carrier mmO2. We talked to Chris Hall, managing director of the 3G project. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. David Garrison, chief executive of STSN, a provider of wireless Internet access to hotels and conferences, June 17, 2003 Will the business travelers of tomorrow demand wireless Internet access? Mr. Garrison says yes, and that hotels will have to offer Wi-Fi service to keep their business customers. Mike Veeck, co-owner of five minor-league baseball teams, June 3, 2003 Mike Veeck has never met a baseball promotion he didn't like -- unless it involved technology. But now he's come full-circle, and is on the cutting edge of in-stadium cellphone food-ordering. Scott Dinsdale, executive vice president for digital strategy, Motion Picture Association of America, May 9, 2003 Michael McCreary, vice-president for R&D at E Ink, April 29, 2002 Your newspaper may someday consist of one sheet of electronic paper, continually updated wirelessly with the latest news. So say the people at E Ink, makers of technology that would be integral to such futuristic broadsheets. Victor Bergonzoli, president of Dartfish USA, March 26, 2002 The makers of SimulCam, the technology that showed two skiers side by side during the Olympics, project big things for their video innovations. Back to Top Portability Notebook A daily feature in the weeks leading up to and following Nov. 24 on rules that take effect on that date allowing people to take their phone numbers with them to a new service provider. Portability Notebook: Portability Problems Persist, Raising Questions for Carriers, December 2, 2003 A week after rules took effect letting cellphone users take their number to a new carrier, major glitches continue to plague the process. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. With Phone-Number Portability, There Are No Easy Questions, November 27, 2003 Transferring your home number to your cellphone is complicated enough, but if your request is at all out of the ordinary, the frustration could be enough to make you trash both phones. Plus, an update on some early switchers. Switching Wireless Clients See Delays, November 26, 2003 Many wireless customers have run into delays in their efforts to switch carriers under new number-portability rules. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Cellphone Stores Report Mixed Signals on Portability, November 24, 2003 On the first day of portability, cellphone stores report light demand. Plus two items from Jen Ryan and Michelle Rama of Dow Jones Newswires. A version of this article co-written by Jesse Drucker appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. A House's Materials Can Act as Blocker of Cellphone Calls, November 21, 2003 Consumers considering transferring their landline number to a cellphone should first take a quick Physics 101 course: The material of their homes may have a big effect on how well cellphone service works within its walls. Plus, why makers of cellphone games may benefit from portability. FCC, Census Bureau Differ on Areas That Make Up Top 100, November 20, 2003 Number portability will begin in the nation's top 100 metro areas by population. But defining what these are isn't so simple. Wireless Carriers Should Target 'Quality' Customers, Analyst Says, November 19, 2003 Wireless carriers looking to lure competitors' subscribers should keep in mind the mantra "quality, not quantity," advises an analyst. Plus, more intercarrier porting deals. Debts Can Still Haunt Switchers; Regulators Give Portability Pitch, November 18, 2003 Old phone debts could be a problem for people who want to switch carriers. Plus, an item by Dow Jones Newswires reporter Mark Wigfield. What the FCC Means by 'Local', November 17, 2003 How you can move to a new city and still benefit from "local" number portability. Plus, two items from Dow Jones Newswires reporters Christine Nuzum and Mark Wigfield. Verizon Wireless, Sprint Force Hands of Smaller Cell Carriers, November 16, 2003 How two large carriers helped ensure that portability goes nationwide on May 24. Plus, more intercarrier number-transfer deals, and why they don't matter as much as you might think. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Rules Won't Make Cell Photos Any More Mobile, November 13, 2003 Your camera-phone photos won't be as portable as your phone number. Plus, more gadgets to help cut the cord. Largent Discusses Complexity Behind Portability's Curtain, November 12, 2003 A glimpse at the inner workings of transferring your number to a new carrier. Plus, portability deals a blow to telemarketers; and a survey offers hope and challenges to the local phone company. Dock-n-Talk Tries to Make Cell a Better Home Phone, November 11, 2003 Dock-n-Talk aims to make it easier to ditch your landline. Plus, a wireless exectuive lashes out at the FCC. Why It May Be Worth Waiting to Switch, November 10, 2003 Thousands of people will change cellular providers on "portability day," and that may be a good reason not to be among them. Plus, an underused Web marketing tactic to lure potential switchers. The Double-Edged Sword of Carriers' Web Marketing, November 7, 2003 Are wireless carriers' own Web sites making users more curious to switch? Plus, assessing the cost of landline number portability. Back to Top First Impressions A look at the latest campaigns and trends in online advertising. ING Direct Campaign Captures Attention of Online-Ad Industry, July 21, 2003 ING Direct plans to debut a TV ad on the Web six weeks before it hits the U.S. airwaves. The move signals the growing use of the Internet to deliver sophisticated branding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. TV Commercials Go Online, but Will Surfers Tune In?, July 8, 2003 Television commercials are coming to your desktop, thanks to better technology and faster Internet connections. Will viewers tune in or tune out? Back to Top The Afternoon Report A roundup and analysis of the day's top stories. OPEC Makes Aggressive Move To Curb Output, Lift Oil Prices, February 10, 2004 OPEC moved aggressively to keep oil prices high, setting plans to cut production by about 9% and sparking fears that the move could stall the nascent global economic recovery. Plus, see the earlier edition. FDA Moves to Help Consumers Understand Drug Advertising, February 4, 2004 If the FDA has its way, pharmaceutical advertising is about to get easier to understand. Plus, in the earlier edition, assessing the latest economic reports. Despite Better Jobs Data, Reason to Worry Remains, August 7, 2003 The troubled labor market is showing signs of recovery, but the economy's explosive productivity growth remains a short-term hurdle. EU Charges Put Microsoft Back Under the Microscope, August 6, 2003 The specter of legal troubles at the software giant has resurfaced in Brussels. Back to Top Convention coverage Reports and photos from the 2004 Democratic and Republican conventions. Gaining Access, September 3, 2004 How young Republicans and protesters have been exploiting a convention security hole to get into MSG for the speeches. Convention Wire: The Single-Gadget Theory; Private Parties; A Low-Key Protest, September 3, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Reporters try covering the convention with just their cellphones, snapping pictures and filing stories by text message; the liquor flows in MSG's private suites; and a low-key protest. Convention Wire: Blocked Call; Another Round; Yacht's Up With That?, September 2, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: T-Mobile subscribers struggle to receive protest update text messages; this Bud's for conventiongoers; and the GOP unabashedly parties on yachts and yacht clubs. Finding Common Ground, September 1, 2004 Indians and Jews look to form a political alliance, and Republican congressmen in New York look to tap into the groups' outsize influence and fundraising abilities. Convention Wire: Locked Out; On the Other Hand, September 1, 2004 I wrote two of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Protesters can't get near MSG, while delegates hand spare credentials to teens holding signs outside the arena. Get the Word Out, August 31, 2004 Text-messaging has emerged as a major political force in New York, helping protesters swap everything from meeting times and locations to reports on police activity. Some Republican delegates are using similar technology to keep updated on dinners and speeches. Convention Wire: Arnold vs. Arnold; Corporate Relations; Hot Shows, Open Seats; Broadway, Part Two; Information, Please; Hold That Thought; Dissent 101, August 31, 2004 I wrote seven of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Arnold's dual TV roles; activists crash parties; convention makes tickets available for hot Broadway shows; Broadway actors walk-out fizzles; librarians answer demonstrators' questions; Pataki and Bloomberg share a rhetorical device; and protest training sessions. Out and About, August 30, 2004 Walking in and around Times Square with Mississippi delegate Merle Flowers on the eve of the Republican convention. Convention Wire: Confronting Ground Zero, August 30, 2004 I wrote one of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, about a confrontation between a Republican delegate and an anti-Bush protester at Ground Zero. Meet the Bloggers, Part Two, August 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 15 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Republican convention in New York, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, opinions on mainstream media coverage, and what they learned from the Boston bloggers. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. The Trip Down Talk Show Row, July 30, 2004 In the fourth-floor concourse ringing the main Fleet Center hall at the Democratic convention, party luminaries each day walk the conservative talk-radio gauntlet. Hot-Button Issues, July 29, 2004 A photo gallery of some buttons -- and their wearers -- that caught our eyes at the Democratic convention in Boston. Convention Wire: Stood Up, Again; What's He Doing Here?, July 29, 2004 I wrote two of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: DemDates can't get a date; and President Bush appears in Boston. The Daily Views: If You Don't Like Bush, Run, July 29, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: Anna Laitin, organizing informal road races to oust Bush. Convention Wire: 'Scalping' Credentials; This Nomination's for You; Boston Beer Party II, July 28, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: "scalping" credentials outside the Fleet Center; beer signs, but no beer, inside the hall; and neighborhood bars miss Bruins fans. Vying for Attention in Boston, July 27, 2004 Election watchdogs criticize political conventions' party circuit for circumventing campaign-finance laws and giving companies direct access to delegates and congressmen. For Vonage, an Internet-phone company, that opportunity was precisely the attraction. But would partygoers choose Vonage or vodka? Sunshine State Is in Spotlight as Democrats Rally Delegates, July 27, 2004 With the early electoral-college calculus placing a premium on Florida's 27 electoral votes, and memories of the 2000 race fresh, a star-studded lineup gathered at the delegation's hotel in Boston during the Democratic convention to rally the Sunshine State's delegates for the campaign ahead. Democrats Take a Soft Touch in Evoking the Sept. 11 Attacks, July 27, 2004 How would Democrats incorporate the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, into the first national political convention since then? Gently and with restraint. Convention Wire: Freedom From Wet; Sign of the Times; President JibJab?, July 27, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: a security-policy reversal leaves conventiongoers dry; Al-Jazeera's sign spat; and Web searchers vote for JibJab. The Daily Views: Kerry Doesn't Satisfy Antiwar Activist, July 27, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: Jim Mcdonald, an antiwar activist looking for a third-party alternative. Convention Wire: Cub Reporters; Plain Gathering; Reluctant Endorsements, July 26, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: two 12-year-old girls interview Al Franken; Dennis Kucinich keynotes a people's party; and progressive activists reluctantly endorse John Kerry. Unconventional Security, July 26, 2004 Some parts of the security package around the Democratic convention are familiar, mirroring what air travelers encounter every day. But other measures seemed confusing or jarring to the thousands of people making their way into the Fleet Center. Meet the Bloggers, July 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 30 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Democratic convention in Boston, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, approach to the convention and opinions on mainstream media coverage. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. The Daily Views: A 9/11 Family Member Remembers, July 26, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: David Potorti, losing a brother on 9/11 inspired him to found an antiwar group. Back to Top Tech Briefs MSNBC.com Achieves Profit, July 12, 2004 News Web site MSNBC.com says it has turned a quarterly profit for the first time since its launch in 1996. Number Portability Complaints Decline, March 29, 2004 The FCC received 788 complaints about wireless number portability in the month ended March 25, down 30% from the previous month. Akamai, MLB.com Sign Content Deal, March 15, 2004 Major League Baseball's Web site signed a deal with Web technology company Akamai Technologies to provide streaming of its audio and video content. Online Ad Sales Jump 44%, November 20, 2003 Ad revenue for 26 prominent online publishers surged an average of 44% in the third quarter from a year earlier, according to a poll released by an industry trade group. TiVo Names DirecTV CEO to Board, October 8, 2003 TiVo Inc. named DirecTV chairman and chief executive Eddy W. Hartenstein to its board of directors. Separately, TiVo and Fox Broadcasting announced a promotional deal starting this month in which TiVo users will have the option of seeing longer spots for four Fox dramas. Cellphone Food-Ordering Hits Fenway, July 18, 2003 Fenway Park has become the latest baseball stadium to offer cellphone-based food orders, offering the service to fans in 396 box seats at Boston Red Sox home games. AOL to Webcast British Open, July 16, 2003 America Online's broadband subscribers get exclusive access to a Webcast of live British Open play of golfers Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia. LPGA, RealNetworks Reach Webcast Deal, July 9, 2003 RealNetworks reached a deal with the Ladies Professional Golf Association to Webcast the Canadian Open, which is set to become the first major professional golf tournament streamed live over the Internet. NBA to Webcast 27 Summer-League Games, July 1, 2003 The NBA said it will Webcast 27 summer-league games, a first for the league as it continues its push into online video with partner RealNetworks. AOL Begins Embedding Sports Clips, June 19, 2003 AOL Time Warner's online unit has begun embedding video in its broadband service's sports home page. MLB.com Traffic Surges on Opening Day, April 2, 2003 The Web site of Major League Baseball saw record traffic on Opening Day, generating 35,000 subscriptions to its multimedia products. Back to Top Others Digit: Web Sites Yield Information About Baseball Team's Move, December 2, 2004 Recent activity by baseball's online arm suggests there were other candidates for the Expos' new name, including "Congressionals" and even retaining "Expos." (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Digit: Miss That Game-Winning Play? Click to MLB.com for Highlights, September 23, 2004 If you missed seeing the 700th career home run slugged by Barry Bonds -- or even if you didn't -- Major League Baseball is betting you'll consider shelling out 99 cents to download a video highlight of the milestone. (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tricks of the Trade: Autograph Collector's Tips, March 31, 2004 Stephen Cohn explains how he's collected more than 7,000 baseball autographs. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Digit: Hiker Help, March 11, 2004 Outdoors types usually take to the trails to get away from it all, but increasingly hikers are relying on high-tech gadgets to make sure they don't get lost. (Third item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tricks of the Trade: A Top Performer Retires, January 21, 2004 How former NBA star David Robinson handled his retirement. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Quick Fix: Updating an Address Book, November 18, 2003 Some of your friends and business associates have a new phone number and address, but you've still got their old contact information in your Outlook address book. Here are three programs that make it easier to update their contact information. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Digit: Bill Joy Meditates.com, November 13, 2003 Sun Microsystems Inc. co-founder and influential programmer Bill Joy plans an 8-foot-high by 12-foot-wide meditative wall projecting calming images in an apartment he is renovating in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan. (Second item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tricks of the Trade: Pro Shortstop's New Glove, September 10, 2003 How All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez cares for his gloves. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Quick Fix: E-Mailing a Mobile Phone, July 1, 2003 Instead of scrambling for paper and a pen to jot down an address while clutching a mobile phone to your ear, have the caller e-mail the information. Sound tough? It's not. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Money's Worth: Let your property work for you, February 27, 2003 These homes are approaching the $600,000 range, but offer income from attached rental units to help ease the bite. Rebuilding Downtown: Key Players, August 26, 2002 This interactive graphic detailed who has the money and who has the power in the struggle to rebuild at the site of the former World Trade Center. World Cup Links of the Day, June 3 - July 1, 2002 This daily feature provided links to the Web's best sites, articles, features and games on the World Cup, along with some snappy commentary. Co-compiled with Jim Chairusmi. This feature was praised in an Online Journalism Review roundup of websites' World Cup coverage (scroll halfway down). Back to Top Also in the print Journal MarketWatch Co-Founder Ends SEC Stock Case, January 11, 2005 The co-founder and former editor-in-chief of the CBS MarketWatch financial news Web site will pay more than $540,000 to settle charges that he repeatedly used an investment newsletter to promote stocks he owned and intended to sell. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Getting a Grip on Internet Traffic, December 30, 2004 Keeping accurate track of the number of people visiting Web sites is far from an exact science. And that is a longstanding problem for Internet publishers that has been given new attention today amid a recovery in online ad spending. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Despite Earlier Predictions, 'Free' Web Is Going Strong, December 21, 2004 You can still get a lot for nothing on the Internet, despite earlier predictions of the decline of the "free" Web. Plus, examples of free content and services. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Digit: Web Sites Yield Information About Baseball Team's Move, December 2, 2004 Recent activity by baseball's online arm suggests there were other candidates for the Expos' new name, including "Congressionals" and even retaining "Expos." (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Online Dispenser of Drugs Wants Some Respect, November 16, 2004 Despite opposition from the medical establishment, pharmaceutical companies and many state and federal lawmakers, KwikMed.com is hoping to convince critics that its business of prescribing and selling drugs online is not only lawful, but also an important medical service. Julia Angwin co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Web Publishers Move Toward Standardizing Ad-Viewership Data, November 15, 2004 Web publishers are finally getting their numbers straight. Addressing marketers' lingering concerns about the Internet that may have kept ad dollars away, Web sites are agreeing to standardize the reporting of ad-viewership numbers, also known as impressions, and for the first time agreeing to have the numbers audited. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. AOL to Offer Antivirus Tools Without an Additional Charge, October 28, 2004 America Online plans to offer McAfee's antivirus software to all of its customers at no additional charge, the latest move by the Internet giant to try to stem subscriber defections. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. To the Winners..., October 18, 2004 ...go a lot of spoils -- as well as some bad feelings. A look at how players on baseball's playoff teams divvy up their share of the loot. Written for a special report on the World Series for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Cheney Mix-Up Leads Surfers to Anti-Bush Site Run by Soros, October 7, 2004 At the vice presidential debate, Cheney suggested viewers visit the site factcheck.com, when he meant factcheck.org. The dot-com site is owned by a Cayman Islands company that it acquires discarded Web sites and monetizes the traffic with text advertising; the owners redirected traffic to the anti-Bush site georgesoros.com. Nicholas Zamiska co-wrote this article. (Jennifer Johnson wrote the other three items in "Campaign Posts," a recurring feature looking at how the campaign is playing out online.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Losing Cellphone No Longer Means Loss of Contacts, October 6, 2004 New tools are making it easier for cellphone users who lose or break their phones to piece back together their phonebooks. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. New Services Are Making It Easier to Hide Who Is Behind Web Sites, September 30, 2004 The number of anonymous sites on the World Wide Web is surging, influencing political contests, raising concerns about criminal activity and spurring debate about privacy on the largely unregulated Internet. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Digit: Miss That Game-Winning Play? Click to MLB.com for Highlights, September 23, 2004 If you missed seeing the 700th career home run slugged by Barry Bonds -- or even if you didn't -- Major League Baseball is betting you'll consider shelling out 99 cents to download a video highlight of the milestone. (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Online-Ad Revenue Hit Record in Second Quarter, September 21, 2004 Online-ad revenue was a record $2.37 billion in the second quarter as the industry continued to push past the levels reached during the dot-com boom. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Nokia Takes a Risk in Putting New Phone on the Big Screen, August 26, 2004 In the upcoming film "Cellular," the title character is a snazzy new Nokia Inc. videophone -- the result of a risky product placement by the Finnish cellphone maker. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. SEC May Update Rules Governing IPO 'Quiet Period', August 16, 2004 Google is the latest company to stumble into the murky world of federal rules governing what companies can and can't say prior to a public offering. Now, the SEC is discussing updating the rules. Deborah Solomon co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Companies Offer Services to Track Cellphone Minutes, July 6, 2004 Avoiding cellphone overage charges can be a major concern for wireless customers. A number of companies are now offering services to help wireless users stay on top of their minute count. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Glory Days, June 28, 2004 After winning an Olympic medal, what do you do for an encore? Profiles of four of the most prominent Olympic athletes of the past 50 years: Bob Mathias, Nadia Comaneci, John Carlos and Al Oerter. Written for a special Encore report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Entrepreneurs Look for Ways to Exploit Google's Ad System, May 20, 2004 How Web entrepreneurs exploit quirks in Google's popular AdSense advertising system to earn a steady stream of money despite a minimal amount of fresh content. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Lawyers Bid Up Value of Web-Search Ads, April 8, 2004 "Mesothelioma" may be the most valuable word on the Internet. The rare, asbestos-related cancer is the king of search advertising, a Web phenomenon in which companies bid to get their ads placed high on the search-result pages of sites like Yahoo and Google and then pay when users click on them. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. I was also interviewed for NPR's Marketplace program about the article. SEC Subpoenas Trading Records of Four MarketWatch Executives, April 7, 2004 MarketWatch.com said the SEC has subpoenaed stock-trading records of four of its executives, including its chief executive and its editor-in-chief, as part of the probe into former columnist Thom Calandra. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Reuters to Limit Free Online Business News, April 5, 2004 Reuters is doing away with much of its free business news -- a move that promises to shake up how millions of Internet users keep abreast of the financial world. Charles Goldsmith co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section, and on the front page of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Tricks of the Trade: Autograph Collector's Tips, March 31, 2004 Stephen Cohn explains how he's collected more than 7,000 baseball autographs. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Microsoft Sets Two-Year Deal to Stream Baseball Webcasts, March 23, 2004 Microsoft has struck a two-year agreement with Major League Baseball's online arm to offer the league's extensive video and audio content to Microsoft's high-speed Internet subscribers, in an unusually large deal for Internet content. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Dining at the Captain's Table? Please Turn Off Your Cellphone, March 17, 2004 The next frontier for cellphone service: international waters. AT&T Wireless has formed a joint venture with Maritime Telecommunications Network to sell wireless service to cruise operators. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. SportsLine to Offer Webcasts in 'March Madness' Package, March 16, 2004 If CBS's blanket television coverage doesn't slake the thirst of college-hoops fans, enthusiasts can turn to Webcasts for more March Madness. SportsLine.com is offering a $9.95 subscription plan that will allow users with high-speed Internet connections to watch dozens of games in the busy early rounds of the men's NCAA basketball tournament. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Narrowing the Gender Gap, March 15, 2004 Women's basketball has become a powerhouse in college sports -- nowhere more than at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. But, as March Madness shows, big disparities with the men remain. Written for a special report on the NCAA tournament for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. More Web Sites Plan Ads Based on What Users Read, March 12, 2004 More Web sites are tracking their users' behavior to let advertisers serve targeted ads. Among the latest to start doing so: FT.com, Reuters.com and ESPN.com. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Digit: Hiker Help, March 11, 2004 Outdoors types usually take to the trails to get away from it all, but increasingly hikers are relying on high-tech gadgets to make sure they don't get lost. (Third item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Computers, Digital Technology Put Calls of NBA Referees to the Test, March 5, 2004 The fine art of refereeing a professional basketball game is fast becoming a science, thanks to digital technology and stepped-up performance monitoring. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Online-Ad Revenue Sets Record After Long Slump, February 13, 2004 Online-ad revenue in the U.S. rose 38% to a record $2.2 billion in the fourth quarter, beating Internet-bubble results. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. AT&T Wireless Leads in Portability Complaints, January 29, 2004 AT&T Wireless, which is soliciting acquisition offers, was named in nearly half of consumer complaints about transferring cellphone numbers between carriers, according to figures by the FCC. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. The Leading Cellular Service -- in Customer Complaints, January 27, 2004 AT&T Wireless has won a dubious distinction in an industry that consumers love to gripe about. For the past year, the wireless provider consistently has had the highest customer complaint rate of any national carrier, according to complaints received by the FCC and obtained by The Wall Street Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request. Jesse Drucker co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. MarketWatch's Co-Founder Resigns, January 23, 2004 Financial-news publisher MarketWatch.com said former editor-in-chief and co-founder Thom Calandra has resigned in the face of internal and Securities and Exchange Commission informal inquiries into his trading activities. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. AOL Will Let Broadband Users Download Movies, January 21, 2004 The 99-cent download is no longer just for music. For a limited time, America Online high-speed users will be able to view popular films for under a dollar though an agreement with Movielink, a digital-film venture backed by five major studios. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tricks of the Trade: A Top Performer Retires, January 21, 2004 How former NBA star David Robinson handled his retirement. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Verizon Wireless Leads Customer-Satisfaction Survey, January 7, 2004 Verizon Wireless swept the latest ranking of cellular-telephone carriers by Consumer Reports magazine. The survey takes on added importance as consumers can now keep their phone numbers when they change carriers -- removing a significant hurdle to switching. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Portability Problems Persist, Raising Questions for Carriers, December 2, 2003 A week after rules took effect letting cellphone users take their number to a new carrier, major glitches continue to plague the process. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Switching Wireless Clients See Delays, November 26, 2003 Many wireless customers have run into delays in their efforts to switch carriers under new number-portability rules. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Cellphone Stores Report Mixed Signals on Portability, November 24, 2003 On the first day of portability, cellphone stores report light demand. Plus two items from Jen Ryan and Michelle Rama of Dow Jones Newswires. A version of this article co-written by Jesse Drucker appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Time Warner's AOL Launches Audio, Video Search Feature, November 19, 2003 America Online launched an audio and video search feature, part of a broader effort to attract broadband customers with content such as music clips, movie trailers and sports highlights. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Quick Fix: Updating an Address Book, November 18, 2003 Some of your friends and business associates have a new phone number and address, but you've still got their old contact information in your Outlook address book. Here are three programs that make it easier to update their contact information. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Verizon Wireless, Sprint Force Hands of Smaller Cell Carriers, November 16, 2003 How two large carriers helped ensure that portability goes nationwide on May 24. Plus, more intercarrier number-transfer deals, and why they don't matter as much as you might think. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Digit: Bill Joy Meditates.com, November 13, 2003 Sun Microsystems Inc. co-founder and influential programmer Bill Joy plans an 8-foot-high by 12-foot-wide meditative wall projecting calming images in an apartment he is renovating in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan. (Second item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Online-Ad Sales Continue Upswing, November 11, 2003 Online-ad sales rose 14% in the second quarter from the year-earlier period, another sign that the industry is rebounding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. FCC Portability Guidelines Don't Address Landline Switches, October 8, 2003 The FCC clarified some uncertainties about rules allowing cellphone users to keep their phone numbers while switching carriers, but didn't address crucial questions about switching numbers between landlines and cellphones. A version of this article co-written by Dow Jones Newswires' Mark Wigfield appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Failure Rate for eBay Searches Leaves Some Sellers Rankled, October 7, 2003 Occasional glitches with the search function on eBay have frustrated some sellers, but the site so dominates the online-auction space that competitors are unlikely to benefit. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Crunching Number Portability, September 10, 2003 After years of delays, wireless customers will soon be able to keep their phone numbers when they switch carriers. But portability is fraught with complications, and carriers are still scrambling to figure out how the system will work. Will it happen by the November deadline? Is my town covered? And other frequently asked questions. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. (I also contributed to this related article by Jane Spencer, which appeared on the front page of the Personal Journal section.) Accelerators Breathe New Life Into Dial-Up Internet Service, September 10, 2003 Will dial-up have a second act? Hundreds of thousands of Internet users have signed up for "acceleration services," which use technological tricks to speed up a traditional dial-up Internet connection. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Will the Music Industry Sue Your Kid?, September 10, 2003 This week's lawsuits by the record industry have raised concerns for the tens of millions of Americans (and their parents) who swap music regularly. Here are some of the basic questions and answers about who should be worried, and why. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. (Also at this free site.) Tricks of the Trade: Pro Shortstop's New Glove, September 10, 2003 How All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez cares for his gloves. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. South Lags Behind Rest of U.S. in Internet Usage, August 28, 2003 Internet usage is rising steadily among adults across the U.S., but Southern states continue to lag behind the rest of country, according to a new study. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. AOL Broadband Service Plans to Offer NFL Game Highlights, August 26, 2003 The NFL and America Online announced a deal to provide video previews and highlights for every game to subscribers of AOL's broadband Internet service. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Getting Unplugged Sheds Light on What Is Wired These Days, August 18, 2003 For the better part of a decade, the digital dream has been a wireless, cashless, instantly connected society. But when the lights went out on Thursday, one thing was clear: When you're unplugged, even very simple tasks can prove to be impossible. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Susan Warren and Melanie Trottman were lead writers on the piece; I contributed two paragraphs and took the photo of George Zamfotis that was turned into a dot drawing. Small Web Advertisers Dash as News Breaks, August 17, 2003 When David Morison learned about the power blackout, he knew immediately what he should do: buy paid-search advertisements. Acting fast, his small business scored prime Web real estate by targeting search ads to news. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) Tech Q&A: Wall Street Firms Curb Access to Personal E-Mail, August 13, 2003 An increasing number of financial-services firms are blocking their workers from accessing personal e-mail accounts from America Online, Yahoo, Hotmail and others. We talk with Raymond James's vice president of information security, Gene Fredriksen, about why his firm is going to start blocking personal e-mail accounts next month, how he'll do it and what the new rules cost. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe, on the front page of the Money & Investing section. RealNetworks and Sprint PCS to Unveil Cellphone Media Offer, August 11, 2003 RealNetworks and Sprint PCS announced a package of paid audio and visual content, an important test of U.S. cellphone users' appetite for multimedia services. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Terror Readiness Site Ready.gov Slowly Expands Beyond English, July 29, 2003 Como se dice "duct tape"? For the millions of Americans who don't read English well, the federal government doesn't have the answer -- at least not at terror-preparedness site Ready.gov. Like most federal-government sites, it's only available in English. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. MarketWatch Plans To Acquire Pinnacor, July 23, 2003 MarketWatch.com agreed to acquire Pinnacor, a provider of financial information and analysis tools, for about $103 million in cash and stock. Separately, MarketWatch posted a narrower second-quarter loss. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. First Impressions: ING Direct Campaign Captures Attention of Online-Ad Industry, July 21, 2003 ING Direct plans to debut a TV ad on the Web six weeks before it hits the U.S. airwaves. The move signals the growing use of the Internet to deliver sophisticated branding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Sabermetrics Goes Mainstream, July 1, 2003 With the publication of the bestseller "Moneyball," baseball's stats geeks finally have gone mainstream. So why do baseball writers rely on outmoded stats? Written for the Leisure & Arts page of The Wall Street Journal. Quick Fix: E-Mailing a Mobile Phone, July 1, 2003 Instead of scrambling for paper and a pen to jot down an address while clutching a mobile phone to your ear, have the caller e-mail the information. Sound tough? It's not. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Tech Q&A: MmO2 Tests 3G Waters on Remote Isle of Man, June 23, 2003 On the tiny Isle of Man, the future of wireless is taking shape. That, at least, is the hope of British carrier mmO2. We talked to Chris Hall, managing director of the 3G project. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Local Governments Look to Cellphone-Based Alerts, June 12, 2003 Could cellphone text messages save lives? Emergency alert systems that would allow governments to send text messages to wireless devices have gained traction in recent months. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Ballparks Let Fans Order Food From Seats by Using Cellphones, June 4, 2003 Every other entertainment venue is trying to ban cellphones these days, but not the ballpark. Around the country, teams are encouraging fans to use their phones to do more than just call up their buddy in seat F34 and wave. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. New Voicemail Services Hope to Challenge Answering Machine, May 27, 2003 AOL and Microsoft hope their new voicemail offerings will bring the age of the machine to a close. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. How Do You Narrow Your Product Options?, March 17, 2003 The founders of HandyLab developed a groundbreaking medical-testing device -- but how does a small company decide which market to target? Written for a small-business special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) Baseball Plans Webcast of Games, Blacking Out Fans' Local Teams, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball plans to Webcast nearly 1,000 games this season -- but it will use Internet-location technology to black out most viewers' home teams. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Consumer Reports Finds Trans Fats in Many Foods, February 11, 2003 Spotlighting the hidden presence of trans fats in many popular packaged foods, Consumer Reports magazine has found substantial amounts of the unhealthy substance in items including breakfast cereal and frozen waffles. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Big Internet Players Show New Interest in Weblogs, February 5, 2003 Terra Lycos's Tripod quietly introduced its Blog Builder last week, marking increased interest by big Internet players in the fast-growing world of Weblogs. AOL may not be far behind. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. The Best Way to ...Fill Prescriptions, November 18, 2002 It's easy to get a prescription drug online, but is it safe and legal?. Written for a special report on the Internet for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. U.S., Canada Pharmacy Groups Seek to Deter Exporting of Drugs, November 13, 2002 Striking a blow against the practice of importing cheap prescription drugs from Canada, U.S. and Canadian professional pharmacy associations plan to launch a certification program for Internet pharmacies based in Canada that purposely will exclude any pharmacies that ship to the U.S. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Sell First, Advertise Later, October 21, 2002 Business-to-business ads on the Web have lagged behind consumer ads. But that's starting to change. Written for an e-commerce special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Getting Your Money Back: You've been ripped off. Now what do you do?, September 16, 2002 Internet fraud is a growing affliction, threatening to erase consumer confidence in e-commerce. Here's what to do if you've been ripped off. Written for an e-commerce special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. MLB.com Offers Fans of Baseball Shorter Version of the Old Ball Game, April 3, 2002 Baseball fans will be able to watch 20-minute fast-forwarded video of games on the league's official website, thanks to the latest video-editing technology and one of baseball's oldest traditions: the stringer. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top By Topic Web commerce/media MarketWatch Co-Founder Ends SEC Stock Case, January 11, 2005 The co-founder and former editor-in-chief of the CBS MarketWatch financial news Web site will pay more than $540,000 to settle charges that he repeatedly used an investment newsletter to promote stocks he owned and intended to sell. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Getting a Grip on Internet Traffic, December 30, 2004 Keeping accurate track of the number of people visiting Web sites is far from an exact science. And that is a longstanding problem for Internet publishers that has been given new attention today amid a recovery in online ad spending. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Bloggers Give Beachfront View Of Devastation, Relief Efforts, December 28, 2004 There were few foreign correspondents initially on the scene to cover the deadly Asian tsunami when it struck Sunday. The region's bloggers have helped fill the void with first-hand accounts of the devastation and information on relief efforts. Despite Earlier Predictions, 'Free' Web Is Going Strong, December 21, 2004 You can still get a lot for nothing on the Internet, despite earlier predictions of the decline of the "free" Web. Plus, examples of free content and services. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Digit: Web Sites Yield Information About Baseball Team's Move, December 2, 2004 Recent activity by baseball's online arm suggests there were other candidates for the Expos' new name, including "Congressionals" and even retaining "Expos." (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Local Papers Try Selling Football News Online, November 28, 2004 More than a half-dozen newspapers are charging premium fees for in-depth reports and commentary from National Football League locker rooms and sidelines. The results so far are mixed. California Skydiver Sees Windfall After Baseball Returns to D.C., November 25, 2004 Until recently, Rick Lemons had never heard of the Montreal Expos, and had no idea that a baseball team was relocating to Washington D.C. But the club's move brought him an unexpected payday of $20,000, thanks to his ownership of nationals.com. Abandoned Campaign Sites Can Draw Unwanted Tenants, November 18, 2004 Most political campaigns disband quickly after an election, and many abandon their Web sites with the assumption that they are no longer of much use. But if past elections are any guide, the sites could soon be the focus of renewed interest -- much to the chagrin of the candidates. Dozens of recent candidates have seen their dormant Web addresses snapped up by everyone from cybersquatters to purveyors of pornography. Online Dispenser of Drugs Wants Some Respect, November 16, 2004 Despite opposition from the medical establishment, pharmaceutical companies and many state and federal lawmakers, KwikMed.com is hoping to convince critics that its business of prescribing and selling drugs online is not only lawful, but also an important medical service. Julia Angwin co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Web Publishers Move Toward Standardizing Ad-Viewership Data, November 15, 2004 Web publishers are finally getting their numbers straight. Addressing marketers' lingering concerns about the Internet that may have kept ad dollars away, Web sites are agreeing to standardize the reporting of ad-viewership numbers, also known as impressions, and for the first time agreeing to have the numbers audited. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. AOL Plans Service to Scour Internet for Travel Deals, November 12, 2004 America Online plans to enter the crowded online travel market early next year with a free service it claims will search dozens of Web sites for the best deals. Bloggers Face Life After the Election, November 5, 2004 Now that Election Day has passed, the top political bloggers are wondering if their Web writing will continue to sustain them, or if they'll have to redirect energy to other pursuits. Washington's New Ball Club Still Needs an Online Home, October 15, 2004 As the baseball pennant chases unfolded this fall, a different kind of race played out online: a land grab for Web site addresses that might be coveted by Washington, D.C.'s new ball club -- like washingtongrays.net and washingtongrays.com. Technical Problems at PayPal Cause Troubles for eBay Users, October 11, 2004 Technical difficulties at PayPal triggered outages for eBay Inc.'s electronic payment service throughout the weekend and Monday, preventing many online shoppers from paying for items they purchased on eBay and rankling some of the site's most-active merchants. Nick Wingfield co-wrote this article. Cheney Mix-Up Leads Surfers to Anti-Bush Site Run by Soros, October 7, 2004 At the vice presidential debate, Cheney suggested viewers visit the site factcheck.com, when he meant factcheck.org. The dot-com site is owned by a Cayman Islands company that it acquires discarded Web sites and monetizes the traffic with text advertising; the owners redirected traffic to the anti-Bush site georgesoros.com. Nicholas Zamiska co-wrote this article. (Jennifer Johnson wrote the other three items in "Campaign Posts," a recurring feature looking at how the campaign is playing out online.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. New Services Are Making It Easier to Hide Who Is Behind Web Sites, September 30, 2004 The number of anonymous sites on the World Wide Web is surging, influencing political contests, raising concerns about criminal activity and spurring debate about privacy on the largely unregulated Internet. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Campaigns Ratchet Up Online Spin for Debate, September 30, 2004 Both presidential campaigns took to the Internet to spin the first presidential debate well before the candidates began trading barbs in Miami. The DNC e-mailed supporters encouraging them to visit media sites immediately after the debate and cast their votes for Kerry in online surveys aimed at picking the debate's winner. The Bush campaign, meanwhile, urged conservative bloggers to incorporate a live "debate feed" on their Web sites that would rebut Kerry's statements. Digit: Miss That Game-Winning Play? Click to MLB.com for Highlights, September 23, 2004 If you missed seeing the 700th career home run slugged by Barry Bonds -- or even if you didn't -- Major League Baseball is betting you'll consider shelling out 99 cents to download a video highlight of the milestone. (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Reports on Spam Levels Paint Differing Views of the Problem, September 21, 2004 When Congress debated last year whether to pass an antispam law, statistics on the volume of junk e-mail messages were frequently trotted out as evidence of the clear and present threat. But a closer look at the numbers suggests they may be a shaky foundation for lawmakers -- and companies deciding how best to spend their information-technology dollars -- to rely on. The most referred-to statistics come from reports issued by vendors of antispam software, and their estimates are often wildly divergent. Online-Ad Revenue Hit Record in Second Quarter, September 21, 2004 Online-ad revenue was a record $2.37 billion in the second quarter as the industry continued to push past the levels reached during the dot-com boom. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Meet the Bloggers, Part Two, August 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 15 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Republican convention in New York, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, opinions on mainstream media coverage, and what they learned from the Boston bloggers. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. SEC May Update Rules Governing IPO 'Quiet Period', August 16, 2004 Google is the latest company to stumble into the murky world of federal rules governing what companies can and can't say prior to a public offering. Now, the SEC is discussing updating the rules. Deborah Solomon co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Interview With Google Founders Is Publicity Boon for Playboy, August 16, 2004 An interview Google's founders gave to Playboy has turned into a regulatory headache for the company, but the magazine is enjoying the burst of publicity. 'Quiet Period' Makes It Tough for Google to Counter Critics, August 11, 2004 Google is in a PR predicament, blitzed with negative or skeptical media coverage about its upcoming IPO but keeping mum because of so-called quiet period rules surrounding an initial public offering. Online Stock Chat Is Lukewarm on Google's IPO, August 5, 2004 Stock message boards, which helped fuel soaring stock prices in the dot-com boom, are throwing cold water on Google's initial public offering. Microsoft Takes Risk in Unveiling Early Version of Search Engine, July 29, 2004 Microsoft's unusual decision to let the public see an early -- and somewhat flawed -- version of its new Internet search engine has made the company the subject of ridicule. But the software giant may have the last laugh. Tech Q&A: Commerce's New Privacy Chief Sees Regulation as Last Resort, July 19, 2004 Dan Caprio, newly appointed chief privacy officer for the Commerce Department, believes voluntary industry action is the best way to boost Internet security. We talk to Mr. Caprio about his free-market approach to security and privacy, why he recommended against an antispam registry and why he considers his job "fun." Viacom Makes Buyout Bid For Struggling SportsLine, July 1, 2004 SportsLine.com, one of the first companies to build a business around providing content on the Web, has received an offer from media conglomerate Viacom to buy the balance of its stock for about $42.6 million. Pollsters Debate Merits of Phone, Online Surveys, June 17, 2004 In the political horse race between George W. Bush and John Kerry, does a click or a call better determine America's odds-on favorite? It's a question pollsters hotly debate even as online polling has gained a stronger foothold in gauging public opinion. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. There Could Be No Google Without Edward Kasner, June 14, 2004 The name of this year's hottest IPO, Google, can be traced back to a walk in the woods just after World War I, when a boy told his mathematician uncle what to call the number one followed by a hundred zeros. Search Sites' Decision to Allow Canadian Drug Ads Causes Stir, June 4, 2004 Google and Yahoo are cracking down on the illegitimate sale of pharmaceutical drugs, banning ads from companies that offer drugs like Vicodin and Viagra without a prescription. But the sites plan to continue carrying ads for Canadian pharmacies, even though it is illegal for U.S. customers to buy drugs from them. 'Google Grants' Program Brings Questions From Those Left Out, June 3, 2004 As investors wait for more news on Google's planned IPO, nonprofit groups are anxious for word about the tight-lipped company's Google Grants advertising program -- and some fear they may miss out on the Web windfall. Online Advertising Hits Record in First Quarter, May 24, 2004 Internet advertising revenue reached about $2.3 billion in the first quarter, a record for a single quarter, in the latest sign the industry is poised this year to surpass its bubble-era peak. SportsLine to Explore 'Strategic Alternatives', May 20, 2004 SportsLine.com, which has largely missed out on the improving fortunes of other Internet publishers, indicated it was putting itself up for sale. Entrepreneurs Look for Ways to Exploit Google's Ad System, May 20, 2004 How Web entrepreneurs exploit quirks in Google's popular AdSense advertising system to earn a steady stream of money despite a minimal amount of fresh content. Freeing the Press, May 12, 2004 A newspaper strike in 1994 led to an 11-day online-news experiment. Written for the special report 10 years on the Web for WSJ.com. Web Hits, May 11, 2004 A selection of Page One articles about the Internet, one for each year in the last decade, from a whodunit 10 years ago about a National Weather Service cybergumshoe tracking down Danish hackers, to a profile of a man who loves getting spam e-mail. Written for the special report 10 years on the Web for WSJ.com. Excerpts From Google's Filing, April 29, 2004 Excerpts and analysis from Google's filing to sell its shares to the public. CNET Launches Music Site, April 26, 2004 As part of a strategy to lure Internet users to a hub of music, games and other content, CNET launched a Web site allowing independent bands to upload their music -- and Internet users to sample and download it. Google Ad-Policy Change Highlights Trademark Debate, April 22, 2004 Long-simmering trademark concerns in online advertising are coming to a boil, thanks to a planned move by industry leader Google. Net Advertisers Favor Deals That Charge Only for Clicks, April 21, 2004 Online advertisers are flocking to deals where they pay each time an ad is clicked, rather than each time an ad is shown, new industry research shows. GarageBand to Revive Old MP3.com Archive, April 18, 2004 GarageBand.com plans to revive a large archive of independent bands' songs stored on MP3.com, tunes that were feared lost following the recent sale of some of that site's assets to CNET. Lawyers Bid Up Value of Web-Search Ads, April 8, 2004 "Mesothelioma" may be the most valuable word on the Internet. The rare, asbestos-related cancer is the king of search advertising, a Web phenomenon in which companies bid to get their ads placed high on the search-result pages of sites like Yahoo and Google and then pay when users click on them. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. I was also interviewed for NPR's Marketplace program about the article. More on Mesothelioma, April 8, 2004 Hundreds of millions of dollars each year is paid out from asbestos makers to victims of mesothelioma. But far less is spent on research. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. SEC Subpoenas Trading Records of Four MarketWatch Executives, April 7, 2004 MarketWatch.com said the SEC has subpoenaed stock-trading records of four of its executives, including its chief executive and its editor-in-chief, as part of the probe into former columnist Thom Calandra. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Papers Are Slow to Embrace Plagiarism-Checking Software, April 7, 2004 Can technology stop plagiarized articles before they hit the newsstand? Plagiarism Test, April 6, 2004 So, how well does plagiarism detection software work? We created a phony opinion piece about steroids, and then ran it through software from plagiarism-detection company iParadigms LLC, which compares articles to a database of Web pages, a news archive and academic papers, among other sources. Written as a sidebar for the above article. Reuters to Limit Free Online Business News, April 5, 2004 Reuters is doing away with much of its free business news -- a move that promises to shake up how millions of Internet users keep abreast of the financial world. Charles Goldsmith co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section, and on the front page of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Thomson Taps MarketWatch to Replace Reuters Content, April 1, 2004 Thomson Financial moved to replace financial news from Reuters Group PLC with content from MarketWatch.com on computer terminals of financial-services clients, signaling heightened rivalry between Thomson and Reuters. Research Firm Sees 29% Rise in Local Online Ads This Year, March 31, 2004 Online-ad spending by local businesses in the U.S. will increase by 29% this year, well ahead of the expected industry-wide growth rate, according to a media research and consulting firm. For One Sports Fan in Spain, March Madness Begets Pain, March 25, 2004 Getting to watch 55 out of 56 early-round NCAA tournament games ain't bad -- unless you're a Duke fan living in Seville, Spain, and your team's game is the one missing. Microsoft Sets Two-Year Deal to Stream Baseball Webcasts, March 23, 2004 Microsoft has struck a two-year agreement with Major League Baseball's online arm to offer the league's extensive video and audio content to Microsoft's high-speed Internet subscribers, in an unusually large deal for Internet content. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. In Bid for Search Traffic, More Sites Launch Toolbars, March 22, 2004 With more search engines offering toolbars with unique features, I take three of the newest ones for a test drive. Web Users Thwart Sites' Efforts to Collect Personal Information, March 22, 2004 Online publishers are increasingly asking users for personal information like location, age, gender and occupation. The reason: Sites generally can charge advertisers more for the ability to reach a targeted audience. But some people derail that goal by intentionally falsifying their user information. AOL Offers a New Service for Last-Minute Bill Paying, March 16, 2004 AOL launched a new bill-paying tool as part of its efforts to distinguish itself from lower-priced Internet providers and shore up its declining subscriber base. SportsLine to Offer Webcasts in 'March Madness' Package, March 16, 2004 If CBS's blanket television coverage doesn't slake the thirst of college-hoops fans, enthusiasts can turn to Webcasts for more March Madness. SportsLine.com is offering a $9.95 subscription plan that will allow users with high-speed Internet connections to watch dozens of games in the busy early rounds of the men's NCAA basketball tournament. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. More Web Sites Plan Ads Based on What Users Read, March 12, 2004 More Web sites are tracking their users' behavior to let advertisers serve targeted ads. Among the latest to start doing so: FT.com, Reuters.com and ESPN.com. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. Music Industry Eyes P2P Model in Bid to Promote Legal Sharing, March 2, 2004 Can file-sharing services and record labels coexist? For one day, at least, they did. In a raucous panel at a digital-music conference, a music executive, representatives of peer-to-peer services, and other industry leaders discussed how to channel the intense activity of online music pirates by persuading them to pay for songs. Lycos Hopes New Strategy Connects With Web Users, February 27, 2004 Lycos is still in business and its sites draw millions of visitors, but its profile is significantly lower than it was in the late 1990s. Now, Lycos is metamorphosing -- and shrinking -- again, rebranding itself as a hub of paid services focused on connecting people. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. Online-Ad Revenue Sets Record After Long Slump, February 13, 2004 Online-ad revenue in the U.S. rose 38% to a record $2.2 billion in the fourth quarter, beating Internet-bubble results. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. RealNetworks to Stop Providing Services to Baseball Web Site, February 5, 2004 RealNetworks plans to stop providing the back-end technology for online audio and video content from Major League Baseball, straining its relationship with one of its flagship partners. Washington Post's Web Site to Require User Registration, February 3, 2004 After resisting such a move for years, the Washington Post's Web site will require all readers to register and provide additional personal information. AOL Launches Brand Aimed at Teenage Users, February 3, 2004 America Online launched an online service for teenagers, the latest move by the No. 1 U.S. Internet service to target specific groups of customers. MarketWatch Plans Spot Checks of Some Employees' Portfolios, January 28, 2004 In a move sparked by the resignation of its co-founder amid inquiries into his stock trading, MarketWatch.com is requiring all employees to register their stock trades with the company. Also, for its financial journalists and senior executives, the company will conduct random audits to verify their trading information. MarketWatch's Co-Founder Resigns, January 23, 2004 Financial-news publisher MarketWatch.com said former editor-in-chief and co-founder Thom Calandra has resigned in the face of internal and Securities and Exchange Commission informal inquiries into his trading activities. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Google Tests E-Mail Marketing, but Market Potential Is Unclear, January 22, 2004 Google's new push into e-mail marketing isn't a slam dunk. Early testers of its new e-mail advertising product, which hasn't been formally launched, say they are mostly pleased with the results. But growing consumer disenchantment with e-mail newsletters may limit the size of the e-mail market. AOL Will Let Broadband Users Download Movies, January 21, 2004 The 99-cent download is no longer just for music. For a limited time, America Online high-speed users will be able to view popular films for under a dollar though an agreement with Movielink, a digital-film venture backed by five major studios. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. MSN Plans Video-Ads Push With Release of New Version, January 8, 2004 Microsoft's MSN online service is making a bid for a share of the growing online market for video advertising, as more advertisers take their television spots to the Web. Kanoodle Looks to Battle Google in Sale of Contextual Advertising, December 17, 2003 Kanoodle.com, a closely held paid-search advertising company, said it will compete with industry leaders Google and Yahoo in the burgeoning business of supplying pay-per-click text advertisements to Web publishers. Live Sports, Online, December 11, 2003 After years of false starts and minor experimentation, live video of pro and college games went online in a big way. But leagues are still cautious. Plus: a chart of current online video offerings of college and pro sports. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Watching Sports on Cellphones May Be Small-Time Broadcasts, December 11, 2003 Live sports action may be coming to cellphones -- but who would want to watch? Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Major League Baseball Faces Webcast Dilemma, December 11, 2003 Webcasts are bringing both money and challenges to Major League Baseball. Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. NFL Extends Online Deal With Foot Locker's Web Arm, December 1, 2003 The NFL announced that it has extended for five years a deal with Footlocker.com to handle the league's catalog and online sales. Online-Ad Seller WhenU Wins Another Court Round, November 20, 2003 A federal judge ruled that WhenU, an online-ad seller, wasn't violating the trademarks nor copyrights of Wells Fargo and Quicken Loans by displaying competitive ads to Internet users when they accessed those companies' Web sites. Time Warner's AOL Launches Audio, Video Search Feature, November 19, 2003 America Online launched an audio and video search feature, part of a broader effort to attract broadband customers with content such as music clips, movie trailers and sports highlights. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. CNET to Buy MP3.com Assets From Vivendi's U.S. Net Unit, November 14, 2003 CNET Networks signed a deal to acquire the assets of MP3.com from Vivendi Universal's U.S. Internet unit, marking the end of a storied name in online music, at least in its current incarnation. Online-Ad Sales Continue Upswing, November 11, 2003 Online-ad sales rose 14% in the second quarter from the year-earlier period, another sign that the industry is rebounding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Media Trade Associations Debate Value of Advertising, October 27, 2003 In an unusual debate, representatives of the major trade associations for most big media types -- newspapers, magazines, local TV, cable TV, outdoor, online, direct marketing and radio -- gathered to promote the value of their clients to advertisers and media buyers. Primedia Agrees to Sell Web-Ad Unit to Google, October 26, 2003 Primedia said it reached a deal to sell its online-advertising unit Sprinks to Google, solidifying Google's position in the growing business of supplying pay-per-click text advertisements to Web publishers. Major League Baseball Sells Downloads of Playoff Games, October 7, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site is selling downloadable video of playoff games to be viewed on their computer or burned to a CD, for $3.95 a game. Failure Rate for eBay Searches Leaves Some Sellers Rankled, October 7, 2003 Occasional glitches with the search function on eBay have frustrated some sellers, but the site so dominates the online-auction space that competitors are unlikely to benefit. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Label Urges Ben Harper Fans to Share Tracks, but Not Steal, September 25, 2003 In a marketing twist, Virgin Records is encouraging online sharing among fans of musician Ben Harper -- but no files are changing hands. MSN Boosts Use of Overture Ads Despite Its Rivalry With Yahoo, September 23, 2003 MSN has expanded its use of paid-search ads from Overture, despite plans for Overture to be acquired by MSN rival Yahoo. Baseball Hopes to Entice Fans With New Web Pricing, September 18, 2003 With playoff races heating up, Major League Baseball is cutting prices for its Webcasts to $1 a day and beaming two games at once. Cloudmark Plans System to Let Good E-Mail Avoid Spam Filters, September 18, 2003 Legitimate e-mail advertising and newsletters, increasingly a casualty of the spam wars, may get a boost. Cloudmark introduced a program that aims to prevent legitimate commercial e-mail messages from getting blocked as unsolicited junk mail. Stacy Forster co-wrote this article. Sports Illustrated Restricts Access to Part of Web Site, September 11, 2003 Sports Illustrated has placed new restrictions on its online edition, granting access to much of its content exclusively to subscribers of the magazine. It is the latest move by AOL Time Warner to drive magazine subscriptions through its Web sites. America Online Ad Chief Apologizes to Advertisers, September 10, 2003 In her first public appearance since becoming head of America Online's ad sales, Lisa Brown issued a mea culpa to advertisers. Accelerators Breathe New Life Into Dial-Up Internet Service, September 10, 2003 Will dial-up have a second act? Hundreds of thousands of Internet users have signed up for "acceleration services," which use technological tricks to speed up a traditional dial-up Internet connection. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Will the Music Industry Sue Your Kid?, September 10, 2003 This week's lawsuits by the record industry have raised concerns for the tens of millions of Americans (and their parents) who swap music regularly. Here are some of the basic questions and answers about who should be worried, and why. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. (Also at this free site.) AstraZeneca Plans Online Push for New Cholesterol Drug Crestor, September 1, 2003 AstraZeneca plans to advertise Crestor, its new cholesterol-lowering drug, on three popular U.S. Web sites this week, in an unusual pharmaceutical marketing strategy: It is targeting potential users of the drug before making sales pitches to their doctors. The Wall Street Journal's Scott Hensley contributed to this article. Tech Q&A: Tennis Group Shows Off Web Technology at U.S. Open, August 28, 2003 From instant scoring to Web video, the U.S. Open prides itself on being high-tech. We talked to Ezra Kucharz, managing director of advanced media for the tennis association that oversees the tournament. South Lags Behind Rest of U.S. in Internet Usage, August 28, 2003 Internet usage is rising steadily among adults across the U.S., but Southern states continue to lag behind the rest of country, according to a new study. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. AOL Broadband Service Plans to Offer NFL Game Highlights, August 26, 2003 The NFL and America Online announced a deal to provide video previews and highlights for every game to subscribers of AOL's broadband Internet service. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Online News Publishers Showed Gains in 2nd Quarter, August 24, 2003 The rising online-ad market is lifting news publishers' results, based on their second-quarter figures. Big Online Publishers Flirt With Context-Based Ads, August 22, 2003 Big news organizations are taking their shot at an advertising segment that has been a home run for Web-search engines: short text ads keyed to a reader's interests. Weather Sites Run Ads Based on Local Conditions, August 21, 2003 Online weather sites are experimenting with ads that are triggered by local weather conditions. Small Web Advertisers Dash as News Breaks, August 17, 2003 When David Morison learned about the power blackout, he knew immediately what he should do: buy paid-search advertisements. Acting fast, his small business scored prime Web real estate by targeting search ads to news. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) RealNetworks and Sprint PCS to Unveil Cellphone Media Offer, August 11, 2003 RealNetworks and Sprint PCS announced a package of paid audio and visual content, an important test of U.S. cellphone users' appetite for multimedia services. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Merrill Brown Resigns as Chief of RealNetworks' Content Efforts, July 31, 2003 RealNetworks' Merrill Brown plans to leave the company in late August, citing a shift in his job responsibilities. Brown is in charge of the company's online subscription services. Terror Readiness Site Ready.gov Slowly Expands Beyond English, July 29, 2003 Como se dice "duct tape"? For the millions of Americans who don't read English well, the federal government doesn't have the answer -- at least not at terror-preparedness site Ready.gov. Like most federal-government sites, it's only available in English. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. MarketWatch Plans To Acquire Pinnacor, July 23, 2003 MarketWatch.com agreed to acquire Pinnacor, a provider of financial information and analysis tools, for about $103 million in cash and stock. Separately, MarketWatch posted a narrower second-quarter loss. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. IBM in Sponsor Deal With NFL That Includes Archiving Video, July 22, 2003 The NFL is going high-tech, partnering with IBM to digitize its video archives and explore new consumer offerings like video on demand. IBM will also become an NFL sponsor. Tech Q&A: Macromedia CEO Says Flash Will Soon Be Found in Phones, July 22, 2003 Macromedia CEO Burgess talks about Flash-enabled cellphones and why he thinks Web sites have come a long way in their use of Flash. First Impressions: ING Direct Campaign Captures Attention of Online-Ad Industry, July 21, 2003 ING Direct plans to debut a TV ad on the Web six weeks before it hits the U.S. airwaves. The move signals the growing use of the Internet to deliver sophisticated branding. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. AOL to Webcast British Open, July 16, 2003 America Online's broadband subscribers get exclusive access to a Webcast of live British Open play of golfers Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia. Tech Q&A: Search Watcher Sullivan Dissects Overture Deal, July 14, 2003 Danny Sullivan, the editor of industry newsletter Search Engine Watch, spoke with me about the Yahoo-Overture deal, what it means for competitors, and what may be next in the online-ad space. LPGA, RealNetworks Reach Webcast Deal, July 9, 2003 RealNetworks reached a deal with the Ladies Professional Golf Association to Webcast the Canadian Open, which is set to become the first major professional golf tournament streamed live over the Internet. MLB.com Hits 5 Million Ballots For 'Last Man' All-Star Voting, July 8, 2003 MLB.com has registered more than five million ballots cast by fans for the final two players to make baseball's All-Star Game. Boston's Jason Varitek and Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins lead in early voting. First Impressions: TV Commercials Go Online, but Will Surfers Tune In?, July 8, 2003 Television commercials are coming to your desktop, thanks to better technology and faster Internet connections. Will viewers tune in or tune out? MLB.com Sees Record Number of Ballots Cast for All-Star Game, July 3, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site registered 4.6 million ballots for the All-Star Game, a record number and an increase of more than 50% over last year's total. Web-Ad Provider WhenU Wins Round in U-Haul Case, July 1, 2003 A federal judge ruled in favor of WhenU, an online-ad seller, in a case brought by U-Haul. The suit claimed WhenU displayed ads for other companies, including competitors, to users of U-Haul's Web site. NBA to Webcast 27 Summer-League Games, July 1, 2003 The NBA said it will Webcast 27 summer-league games, a first for the league as it continues its push into online video with partner RealNetworks. Key Questions in Crackdown on File Sharing by Music Firms, June 30, 2003 Answers to pressing questions about the music industry's crackdown on online music swappers: Who will be targeted? When is file sharing illegal? Will the crackdown work? And more. AOL Begins Embedding Sports Clips, June 19, 2003 AOL Time Warner's online unit has begun embedding video in its broadband service's sports home page. MLB.com Sees 1,700 Downloads of Game Video of Clemens Outing, June 17, 2003 About 1,700 fans paid $3.95 each to download the entire game video of Roger Clemens's 300th victory from Major League Baseball's Web site. Major League Baseball to Sell Downloads of Entire Games, June 12, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site is testing a novel way of selling video: letting fans download video of an entire game to be viewed on their computer or burned to a CD. Online-Ad Sales Show Signs of Return to Growth, June 12, 2003 Online-ad revenue showed a healthy sequential increase in the fourth quarter of 2002, reversing two years of declines, according to revised numbers compiled by an industry trade group. (Also at this free site.) ABC News, RealNetworks Set Streaming-Video Deal, June 10, 2003 ABC News and RealNetworks announced a multiyear deal that expands their longtime partnership and makes RealNetworks the only multimedia hub with access to ABC News's around-the-clock online Webcast. WNBA, RealNetworks Strike Deal to Stream Video of Games, June 6, 2003 RealNetworks and the WNBA said they have reached a multiyear deal to Webcast at least 10 women's basketball games per season as part of a new subscription service. WebFN to Shut Down Streaming Video Operation, May 30, 2003 WebFN plans to shut down its streaming-video operations Friday after nearly three years of broadcasts, making it the latest online video-news operation to close. WNBA to Stream Video of Game Over Internet, May 30, 2003 The WNBA will stream the video of a game over the Internet, a first for the seven-year-old league and an apparent first for women's professional sports. Tech Q&A: Scott Dinsdale, executive vice president for digital strategy, Motion Picture Association of America, May 9, 2003 Hollywood has avoided the worst effects of piracy felt by the recording studios, and Scott Dinsdale aims to keep things that way. AOL Says Broadband Users Rapidly Joining New Service, May 6, 2003 AOL Time Warner's launch of the latest version of America Online has been well ahead of company forecasts and interest has been especially strong among high-speed Internet users, a company executive said at a conference in New York. Blockbuster CEO Makes Case for Rentals as Antipiracy Tool, May 5, 2003 Blockbuster's CEO said video rental acts as a powerful deterrent to piracy "because we have legally satisfied consumers' appetite for entertainment." Overstock CEO Takes Blame Amid Weak Results, Stock Slide, April 30, 2003 Blame me. That's what the chief executive, chairman and largest shareholder of Overstock.com Inc. effectively told Wall Street following the Internet retailer's weak first-quarter results -- which knocked its already depressed stock lower and came shortly after the company completed a follow-on stock offering. MLB.com Traffic Surges on Opening Day, April 2, 2003 The Web site of Major League Baseball saw record traffic on Opening Day, generating 35,000 subscriptions to its multimedia products. Some Sports Web Sites Add War Coverage to Mix, March 31, 2003 How sports Web sites are grappling with how to cover news from Iraq; the top item in the latest Web at War column, about how the war in Iraq is taking shape online. Yahoo to Sell Video Service With Sports, Entertainment, March 17, 2003 Yahoo, broadening its push into fee-based services, Monday introduced a video subscription service that offers exclusive entertainment and sports content. Written by Mylene Mangalindan; I contributed three paragraphs at the bottom about video content from March Madness. Baseball Plans Webcast of Games, Blacking Out Fans' Local Teams, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball plans to Webcast nearly 1,000 games this season -- but it will use Internet-location technology to black out most viewers' home teams. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. MLB.TV Signals New Interest in Broadband Video Offerings, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball's planned offering of live, streaming video of about 1,000 games is the clearest sign yet of a reinvigorated Webcasting market. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. SportsLine Wins NCAA Deal, Will Sell Gambling Operations, February 26, 2003 SportsLine.com was selected by CBS Sports to publish the sites for 66 collegiate sports championships, including men's basketball, in a deal that underlines the value of online tie-ins for mainstream advertisers. Big Internet Players Show New Interest in Weblogs, February 5, 2003 Terra Lycos's Tripod quietly introduced its Blog Builder last week, marking increased interest by big Internet players in the fast-growing world of Weblogs. AOL may not be far behind. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. The Best Way to ...Fill Prescriptions, November 18, 2002 It's easy to get a prescription drug online, but is it safe and legal?. Written for a special report on the Internet for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Search Engines Face Ad Dilemma, November 18, 2002 Web sites that run ads for shady online pharmacies may be in store for a collective headache. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. U.S., Canada Pharmacy Groups Seek to Deter Exporting of Drugs, November 13, 2002 Striking a blow against the practice of importing cheap prescription drugs from Canada, U.S. and Canadian professional pharmacy associations plan to launch a certification program for Internet pharmacies based in Canada that purposely will exclude any pharmacies that ship to the U.S. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Selling MSN, October 25, 2002 Microsoft's plastering of several Manhattan neighborhoods with decals for the release of MSN 8 didn't sit well with some business owners. We had this story the day before the AP reported that New York told the company to remove the ads. Sell First, Advertise Later, October 21, 2002 Business-to-business ads on the Web have lagged behind consumer ads. But that's starting to change. Written for an e-commerce special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Finding the Right Target, October 21, 2002 Segmenting is poised to be the next big thing in online advertising. But will advertisers and Web users buy into it? Written as an online sidebar for the above article. Getting Your Money Back: You've been ripped off. Now what do you do?, September 16, 2002 Internet fraud is a growing affliction, threatening to erase consumer confidence in e-commerce. Here's what to do if you've been ripped off. Written for an e-commerce special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. The Official World Cup Web In Delayed Match Fragments, May 31, 2002 Time differences of up to 12 hours may make this the Internet's best World Cup, with rooters going online to get scores, analysis and -- in a Cup first -- video streams while at work or from home. Fans Try Out New Web Applications for Play-By-Play of Baseball Games, April 17, 2002 A survey of Web applications for following baseball games online, along with an opinionated guide to the leading options. MLB.com Offers Fans of Baseball Shorter Version of the Old Ball Game, April 3, 2002 Baseball fans will be able to watch 20-minute fast-forwarded video of games on the league's official website, thanks to the latest video-editing technology and one of baseball's oldest traditions: the stringer. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top Sports & technology Tie Breaker, September 8, 2005 It's only a matter of time until some form of video replay review becomes a part of major tennis tournaments. If it does it could reshape the sport. Players will be able to challenge line calls that go against them, instead of just checking the television replays later and complaining about them. Billionaire NBA Owner's Gamble on a Hedge Fund Faces Long Odds, December 9, 2004 Mark Cuban's proposal to launch a sports-gambling hedge fund is itself a big wager. To succeed, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks will have to scour the market for complex bets, while overcoming steep logistical and regulatory hurdles. Digit: Web Sites Yield Information About Baseball Team's Move, December 2, 2004 Recent activity by baseball's online arm suggests there were other candidates for the Expos' new name, including "Congressionals" and even retaining "Expos." (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Local Papers Try Selling Football News Online, November 28, 2004 More than a half-dozen newspapers are charging premium fees for in-depth reports and commentary from National Football League locker rooms and sidelines. The results so far are mixed. California Skydiver Sees Windfall After Baseball Returns to D.C., November 25, 2004 Until recently, Rick Lemons had never heard of the Montreal Expos, and had no idea that a baseball team was relocating to Washington D.C. But the club's move brought him an unexpected payday of $20,000, thanks to his ownership of nationals.com. Washington's New Ball Club Still Needs an Online Home, October 15, 2004 As the baseball pennant chases unfolded this fall, a different kind of race played out online: a land grab for Web site addresses that might be coveted by Washington, D.C.'s new ball club -- like washingtongrays.net and washingtongrays.com. Digit: Miss That Game-Winning Play? Click to MLB.com for Highlights, September 23, 2004 If you missed seeing the 700th career home run slugged by Barry Bonds -- or even if you didn't -- Major League Baseball is betting you'll consider shelling out 99 cents to download a video highlight of the milestone. (First item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Viacom Makes Buyout Bid For Struggling SportsLine, July 1, 2004 SportsLine.com, one of the first companies to build a business around providing content on the Web, has received an offer from media conglomerate Viacom to buy the balance of its stock for about $42.6 million. SportsLine to Explore 'Strategic Alternatives', May 20, 2004 SportsLine.com, which has largely missed out on the improving fortunes of other Internet publishers, indicated it was putting itself up for sale. Major League Baseball, Sprint in Cellphone Deal, May 6, 2004 Major League Baseball games are coming to Sprint PCS cellphones. The league's interactive arm is working with start-up Idetic to offer Sprint users a video-like highlights channel and 30 game-audio channels -- one for each team. NBA Announces Deal to Feed Highlights to Nokia Cellphones, May 3, 2004 The NBA announced a deal with Nokia to stream nightly 20-second video highlights clips to high-end Nokia cellphones, starting with the league's championship series next month. For One Sports Fan in Spain, March Madness Begets Pain, March 25, 2004 Getting to watch 55 out of 56 early-round NCAA tournament games ain't bad -- unless you're a Duke fan living in Seville, Spain, and your team's game is the one missing. Microsoft Sets Two-Year Deal to Stream Baseball Webcasts, March 23, 2004 Microsoft has struck a two-year agreement with Major League Baseball's online arm to offer the league's extensive video and audio content to Microsoft's high-speed Internet subscribers, in an unusually large deal for Internet content. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. SportsLine to Offer Webcasts in 'March Madness' Package, March 16, 2004 If CBS's blanket television coverage doesn't slake the thirst of college-hoops fans, enthusiasts can turn to Webcasts for more March Madness. SportsLine.com is offering a $9.95 subscription plan that will allow users with high-speed Internet connections to watch dozens of games in the busy early rounds of the men's NCAA basketball tournament. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Stars of NCAA Basketball Are Students All the Same, March 15, 2004 Many schools make their student e-mail directory available to the public. To see how accessible are college basketball's brightest stars -- who are at the same time celebrities and students -- we delivered five questions to their e-mail addresses. Find out who responded, and what they had to say. Written as an online sidebar for a special report on the NCAA tournament. Jim Chairusmi co-wrote this article. Computers, Digital Technology Put Calls of NBA Referees to the Test, March 5, 2004 The fine art of refereeing a professional basketball game is fast becoming a science, thanks to digital technology and stepped-up performance monitoring. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. RealNetworks to Stop Providing Services to Baseball Web Site, February 5, 2004 RealNetworks plans to stop providing the back-end technology for online audio and video content from Major League Baseball, straining its relationship with one of its flagship partners. Live Sports, Online, December 11, 2003 After years of false starts and minor experimentation, live video of pro and college games went online in a big way. But leagues are still cautious. Plus: a chart of current online video offerings of college and pro sports. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Watching Sports on Cellphones May Be Small-Time Broadcasts, December 11, 2003 Live sports action may be coming to cellphones -- but who would want to watch? Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Major League Baseball Faces Webcast Dilemma, December 11, 2003 Webcasts are bringing both money and challenges to Major League Baseball. Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. NFL Extends Online Deal With Foot Locker's Web Arm, December 1, 2003 The NFL announced that it has extended for five years a deal with Footlocker.com to handle the league's catalog and online sales. Major League Baseball Sells Downloads of Playoff Games, October 7, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site is selling downloadable video of playoff games to be viewed on their computer or burned to a CD, for $3.95 a game. Baseball Hopes to Entice Fans With New Web Pricing, September 18, 2003 With playoff races heating up, Major League Baseball is cutting prices for its Webcasts to $1 a day and beaming two games at once. Sports Illustrated Restricts Access to Part of Web Site, September 11, 2003 Sports Illustrated has placed new restrictions on its online edition, granting access to much of its content exclusively to subscribers of the magazine. It is the latest move by AOL Time Warner to drive magazine subscriptions through its Web sites. Tech Q&A: Tennis Group Shows Off Web Technology at U.S. Open, August 28, 2003 From instant scoring to Web video, the U.S. Open prides itself on being high-tech. We talked to Ezra Kucharz, managing director of advanced media for the tennis association that oversees the tournament. AOL Broadband Service Plans to Offer NFL Game Highlights, August 26, 2003 The NFL and America Online announced a deal to provide video previews and highlights for every game to subscribers of AOL's broadband Internet service. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. IBM in Sponsor Deal With NFL That Includes Archiving Video, July 22, 2003 The NFL is going high-tech, partnering with IBM to digitize its video archives and explore new consumer offerings like video on demand. IBM will also become an NFL sponsor. Cellphone Food-Ordering Hits Fenway, July 18, 2003 Fenway Park has become the latest baseball stadium to offer cellphone-based food orders, offering the service to fans in 396 box seats at Boston Red Sox home games. AOL to Webcast British Open, July 16, 2003 America Online's broadband subscribers get exclusive access to a Webcast of live British Open play of golfers Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia. LPGA, RealNetworks Reach Webcast Deal, July 9, 2003 RealNetworks reached a deal with the Ladies Professional Golf Association to Webcast the Canadian Open, which is set to become the first major professional golf tournament streamed live over the Internet. MLB.com Hits 5 Million Ballots For 'Last Man' All-Star Voting, July 8, 2003 MLB.com has registered more than five million ballots cast by fans for the final two players to make baseball's All-Star Game. Boston's Jason Varitek and Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins lead in early voting. MLB.com Sees Record Number of Ballots Cast for All-Star Game, July 3, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site registered 4.6 million ballots for the All-Star Game, a record number and an increase of more than 50% over last year's total. NBA to Webcast 27 Summer-League Games, July 1, 2003 The NBA said it will Webcast 27 summer-league games, a first for the league as it continues its push into online video with partner RealNetworks. AOL Begins Embedding Sports Clips, June 19, 2003 AOL Time Warner's online unit has begun embedding video in its broadband service's sports home page. MLB.com Sees 1,700 Downloads of Game Video of Clemens Outing, June 17, 2003 About 1,700 fans paid $3.95 each to download the entire game video of Roger Clemens's 300th victory from Major League Baseball's Web site. Major League Baseball to Sell Downloads of Entire Games, June 12, 2003 Major League Baseball's Web site is testing a novel way of selling video: letting fans download video of an entire game to be viewed on their computer or burned to a CD. WNBA, RealNetworks Strike Deal to Stream Video of Games, June 6, 2003 RealNetworks and the WNBA said they have reached a multiyear deal to Webcast at least 10 women's basketball games per season as part of a new subscription service. Ballparks Let Fans Order Food From Seats by Using Cellphones, June 4, 2003 Every other entertainment venue is trying to ban cellphones these days, but not the ballpark. Around the country, teams are encouraging fans to use their phones to do more than just call up their buddy in seat F34 and wave. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Creative Offerings May Be Key to Get Messaging Off the Bench, June 3, 2003 In-stadium cellphone applications using text-messaging and wireless Internet are part of a broader strategy by wireless carriers to lure Americans to thumb away on their handsets. This article and the following one were written as an online sidebar for the above article. Tech Q&A: Mike Veeck, co-owner of five minor-league baseball teams, June 3, 2003 Mike Veeck has never met a baseball promotion he didn't like -- unless it involved technology. But now he's come full-circle, and is on the cutting edge of in-stadium cellphone food-ordering. WNBA to Stream Video of Game Over Internet, May 30, 2003 The WNBA will stream the video of a game over the Internet, a first for the seven-year-old league and an apparent first for women's professional sports. NBA Takes a Shot at HD Television, April 29, 2003 The NBA plans to air two hours of daily high-definition television, in the latest move by sports programmers to lure more fans to buy HD sets and subscribe to HD services. MLB.com Traffic Surges on Opening Day, April 2, 2003 The Web site of Major League Baseball saw record traffic on Opening Day, generating 35,000 subscriptions to its multimedia products. Some Sports Web Sites Add War Coverage to Mix, March 31, 2003 How sports Web sites are grappling with how to cover news from Iraq; the top item in the latest Web at War column, about how the war in Iraq is taking shape online. Yahoo to Sell Video Service With Sports, Entertainment, March 17, 2003 Yahoo, broadening its push into fee-based services, Monday introduced a video subscription service that offers exclusive entertainment and sports content. Written by Mylene Mangalindan; I contributed three paragraphs at the bottom about video content from March Madness. Baseball Plans Webcast of Games, Blacking Out Fans' Local Teams, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball plans to Webcast nearly 1,000 games this season -- but it will use Internet-location technology to black out most viewers' home teams. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. MLB.TV Signals New Interest in Broadband Video Offerings, March 11, 2003 Major League Baseball's planned offering of live, streaming video of about 1,000 games is the clearest sign yet of a reinvigorated Webcasting market. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. SportsLine Wins NCAA Deal, Will Sell Gambling Operations, February 26, 2003 SportsLine.com was selected by CBS Sports to publish the sites for 66 collegiate sports championships, including men's basketball, in a deal that underlines the value of online tie-ins for mainstream advertisers. It Shoots, It Scores! Robots Play Soccer, June 20, 2002 Robotic dogs and humanoids battle it out for android soccer supremacy at RoboCup 2002 in Japan. The Official World Cup Web In Delayed Match Fragments, May 31, 2002 Time differences of up to 12 hours may make this the Internet's best World Cup, with rooters going online to get scores, analysis and -- in a Cup first -- video streams while at work or from home. Fans Try Out New Web Applications for Play-By-Play of Baseball Games, April 17, 2002 A survey of Web applications for following baseball games online, along with an opinionated guide to the leading options. MLB.com Offers Fans of Baseball Shorter Version of the Old Ball Game, April 3, 2002 Baseball fans will be able to watch 20-minute fast-forwarded video of games on the league's official website, thanks to the latest video-editing technology and one of baseball's oldest traditions: the stringer. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tech Q&A: Victor Bergonzoli, president of Dartfish USA, March 26, 2002 The makers of SimulCam, the technology that showed two skiers side by side during the Olympics, project big things for their video innovations. Back to Top Health Online Dispenser of Drugs Wants Some Respect, November 16, 2004 Despite opposition from the medical establishment, pharmaceutical companies and many state and federal lawmakers, KwikMed.com is hoping to convince critics that its business of prescribing and selling drugs online is not only lawful, but also an important medical service. Julia Angwin co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Search Sites' Decision to Allow Canadian Drug Ads Causes Stir, June 4, 2004 Google and Yahoo are cracking down on the illegitimate sale of pharmaceutical drugs, banning ads from companies that offer drugs like Vicodin and Viagra without a prescription. But the sites plan to continue carrying ads for Canadian pharmacies, even though it is illegal for U.S. customers to buy drugs from them. More on Mesothelioma, April 8, 2004 Hundreds of millions of dollars each year is paid out from asbestos makers to victims of mesothelioma. But far less is spent on research. The Afternoon Report: FDA Moves to Help Consumers Understand Drug Advertising, February 4, 2004 If the FDA has its way, pharmaceutical advertising is about to get easier to understand. Plus, in the earlier edition, assessing the latest economic reports. (Filling in on this roundup and analysis of the day's top stories.) Value Meals, December 10, 2003 A Popeyes franchisee embraces talking, deal-making cash registers as the future of fast food. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Some Say Food Software Could Work Too Well, December 10, 2003 Among the biggest believers in the power of deal-making technology to boost restaurant sales: obesity researchers and critics of fast-food chains. Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. AstraZeneca Plans Online Push for New Cholesterol Drug Crestor, September 1, 2003 AstraZeneca plans to advertise Crestor, its new cholesterol-lowering drug, on three popular U.S. Web sites this week, in an unusual pharmaceutical marketing strategy: It is targeting potential users of the drug before making sales pitches to their doctors. The Wall Street Journal's Scott Hensley contributed to this article. How Do You Narrow Your Product Options?, March 17, 2003 The founders of HandyLab developed a groundbreaking medical-testing device -- but how does a small company decide which market to target? Written for a small-business special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) In Face of Illegible Name Tags, Some Boomers Cry, No More!, February 14, 2003 Fed up with hard-to-read name tags and their own deteriorating vision, a coalition of baby boomers is demanding that business-conference organizers make identification badges more legible. Consumer Reports Finds Trans Fats in Many Foods, February 11, 2003 Spotlighting the hidden presence of trans fats in many popular packaged foods, Consumer Reports magazine has found substantial amounts of the unhealthy substance in items including breakfast cereal and frozen waffles. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. The Best Way to ...Fill Prescriptions, November 18, 2002 It's easy to get a prescription drug online, but is it safe and legal?. Written for a special report on the Internet for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Search Engines Face Ad Dilemma, November 18, 2002 Web sites that run ads for shady online pharmacies may be in store for a collective headache. Written as an online sidebar for the above article. U.S., Canada Pharmacy Groups Seek to Deter Exporting of Drugs, November 13, 2002 Striking a blow against the practice of importing cheap prescription drugs from Canada, U.S. and Canadian professional pharmacy associations plan to launch a certification program for Internet pharmacies based in Canada that purposely will exclude any pharmacies that ship to the U.S. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top Politics Abandoned Campaign Sites Can Draw Unwanted Tenants, November 18, 2004 Most political campaigns disband quickly after an election, and many abandon their Web sites with the assumption that they are no longer of much use. But if past elections are any guide, the sites could soon be the focus of renewed interest -- much to the chagrin of the candidates. Dozens of recent candidates have seen their dormant Web addresses snapped up by everyone from cybersquatters to purveyors of pornography. Federal Project Catalogs Old Campaign Web Sites, November 18, 2004 Many of this year's political campaign sites will soon disappear from the Web, but they won't be lost forever, thanks to a Library of Congress Internet-archiving project. Written as a sidebar for the above article. WSJ.com Projects Jason Acebal Has Won Its Election Contest, November 8, 2004 President Bush has won four more years, John Kerry has conceded and -- after days of ballot counting -- the race in Iowa has been decided in the president's favor. It's time to name a winner of the Online Journal's election contest. Congratulations, Jason Acebal. Bloggers Face Life After the Election, November 5, 2004 Now that Election Day has passed, the top political bloggers are wondering if their Web writing will continue to sustain them, or if they'll have to redirect energy to other pursuits. Pollsters Generally Had It Right, but Missed Some Key Battles, November 3, 2004 National pollsters accurately captured the broad outlines of the presidential election, but surveys in some closely contested states missed the target and early exit-poll numbers led observers astray. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. Reporters, Pundits File Real-Time Web Updates, November 3, 2004 A roundup of how Election Day played out online, from exit-poll analyses to Google's curious news judgment. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. A Close Race, but Over Quickly, November 1, 2004 Here's how Online Journal readers expect Tuesday's presidential election to play out: A razor-thin margin for the victor, and a concession speech from his opponent by 8 a.m. EST Wednesday. Enter the WSJ.com Election Contest, October 28, 2004 Do you think you have a better handle on the Election Day outlook than the pollsters? Test your political forecasting skills by entering the Online Journal's presidential election contest. Cheney Mix-Up Leads Surfers to Anti-Bush Site Run by Soros, October 7, 2004 At the vice presidential debate, Cheney suggested viewers visit the site factcheck.com, when he meant factcheck.org. The dot-com site is owned by a Cayman Islands company that it acquires discarded Web sites and monetizes the traffic with text advertising; the owners redirected traffic to the anti-Bush site georgesoros.com. Nicholas Zamiska co-wrote this article. (Jennifer Johnson wrote the other three items in "Campaign Posts," a recurring feature looking at how the campaign is playing out online.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. New Services Are Making It Easier to Hide Who Is Behind Web Sites, September 30, 2004 The number of anonymous sites on the World Wide Web is surging, influencing political contests, raising concerns about criminal activity and spurring debate about privacy on the largely unregulated Internet. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Campaigns Ratchet Up Online Spin for Debate, September 30, 2004 Both presidential campaigns took to the Internet to spin the first presidential debate well before the candidates began trading barbs in Miami. The DNC e-mailed supporters encouraging them to visit media sites immediately after the debate and cast their votes for Kerry in online surveys aimed at picking the debate's winner. The Bush campaign, meanwhile, urged conservative bloggers to incorporate a live "debate feed" on their Web sites that would rebut Kerry's statements. Effort to Broadcast Alerts to Cellphones Gains Steam, September 28, 2004 Long-running efforts to transmit alerts to cellphones in the event of dangerous weather, terror attacks or other emergencies are gaining momentum. Gaining Access, September 3, 2004 How young Republicans and protesters have been exploiting a convention security hole to get into MSG for the speeches. Convention Wire: The Single-Gadget Theory; Private Parties; A Low-Key Protest, September 3, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Reporters try covering the convention with just their cellphones, snapping pictures and filing stories by text message; the liquor flows in MSG's private suites; and a low-key protest. Convention Wire: Blocked Call; Another Round; Yacht's Up With That?, September 2, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: T-Mobile subscribers struggle to receive protest update text messages; this Bud's for conventiongoers; and the GOP unabashedly parties on yachts and yacht clubs. Finding Common Ground, September 1, 2004 Indians and Jews look to form a political alliance, and Republican congressmen in New York look to tap into the groups' outsize influence and fundraising abilities. Convention Wire: Locked Out; On the Other Hand, September 1, 2004 I wrote two of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Protesters can't get near MSG, while delegates hand spare credentials to teens holding signs outside the arena. Get the Word Out, August 31, 2004 Text-messaging has emerged as a major political force in New York, helping protesters swap everything from meeting times and locations to reports on police activity. Some Republican delegates are using similar technology to keep updated on dinners and speeches. Convention Wire: Arnold vs. Arnold; Corporate Relations; Hot Shows, Open Seats; Broadway, Part Two; Information, Please; Hold That Thought; Dissent 101, August 31, 2004 I wrote seven of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Arnold's dual TV roles; activists crash parties; convention makes tickets available for hot Broadway shows; Broadway actors walk-out fizzles; librarians answer demonstrators' questions; Pataki and Bloomberg share a rhetorical device; and protest training sessions. Out and About, August 30, 2004 Walking in and around Times Square with Mississippi delegate Merle Flowers on the eve of the Republican convention. Convention Wire: Confronting Ground Zero, August 30, 2004 I wrote one of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, about a confrontation between a Republican delegate and an anti-Bush protester at Ground Zero. Meet the Bloggers, Part Two, August 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 15 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Republican convention in New York, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, opinions on mainstream media coverage, and what they learned from the Boston bloggers. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. The Trip Down Talk Show Row, July 30, 2004 In the fourth-floor concourse ringing the main Fleet Center hall at the Democratic convention, party luminaries each day walk the conservative talk-radio gauntlet. Hot-Button Issues, July 29, 2004 A photo gallery of some buttons -- and their wearers -- that caught our eyes at the Democratic convention in Boston. Convention Wire: Stood Up, Again; What's He Doing Here?, July 29, 2004 I wrote two of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: DemDates can't get a date; and President Bush appears in Boston. The Daily Views: If You Don't Like Bush, Run, July 29, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: Anna Laitin, organizing informal road races to oust Bush. Convention Wire: 'Scalping' Credentials; This Nomination's for You; Boston Beer Party II, July 28, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: "scalping" credentials outside the Fleet Center; beer signs, but no beer, inside the hall; and neighborhood bars miss Bruins fans. Vying for Attention in Boston, July 27, 2004 Election watchdogs criticize political conventions' party circuit for circumventing campaign-finance laws and giving companies direct access to delegates and congressmen. For Vonage, an Internet-phone company, that opportunity was precisely the attraction. But would partygoers choose Vonage or vodka? Sunshine State Is in Spotlight as Democrats Rally Delegates, July 27, 2004 With the early electoral-college calculus placing a premium on Florida's 27 electoral votes, and memories of the 2000 race fresh, a star-studded lineup gathered at the delegation's hotel in Boston during the Democratic convention to rally the Sunshine State's delegates for the campaign ahead. Democrats Take a Soft Touch in Evoking the Sept. 11 Attacks, July 27, 2004 How would Democrats incorporate the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, into the first national political convention since then? Gently and with restraint. Convention Wire: Freedom From Wet; Sign of the Times; President JibJab?, July 27, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: a security-policy reversal leaves conventiongoers dry; Al-Jazeera's sign spat; and Web searchers vote for JibJab. The Daily Views: Kerry Doesn't Satisfy Antiwar Activist, July 27, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: Jim Mcdonald, an antiwar activist looking for a third-party alternative. Convention Wire: Cub Reporters; Plain Gathering; Reluctant Endorsements, July 26, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Democratic convention, including: two 12-year-old girls interview Al Franken; Dennis Kucinich keynotes a people's party; and progressive activists reluctantly endorse John Kerry. Unconventional Security, July 26, 2004 Some parts of the security package around the Democratic convention are familiar, mirroring what air travelers encounter every day. But other measures seemed confusing or jarring to the thousands of people making their way into the Fleet Center. Meet the Bloggers, July 26, 2004 Mini-profiles of most of the 30 Web loggers -- or bloggers -- accredited to cover the Democratic convention in Boston, in the form of their answers to a questionnaire about their political views, blogging style, approach to the convention and opinions on mainstream media coverage. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. The Daily Views: A 9/11 Family Member Remembers, July 26, 2004 The subject of this daily profile of a protester at the Democratic convention: David Potorti, losing a brother on 9/11 inspired him to found an antiwar group. Tech Q&A: Commerce's New Privacy Chief Sees Regulation as Last Resort, July 19, 2004 Dan Caprio, newly appointed chief privacy officer for the Commerce Department, believes voluntary industry action is the best way to boost Internet security. We talk to Mr. Caprio about his free-market approach to security and privacy, why he recommended against an antispam registry and why he considers his job "fun." Pollsters Debate Merits of Phone, Online Surveys, June 17, 2004 In the political horse race between George W. Bush and John Kerry, does a click or a call better determine America's odds-on favorite? It's a question pollsters hotly debate even as online polling has gained a stronger foothold in gauging public opinion. Elizabeth Weinstein co-wrote this article. Proposed Do-Not-Spam Registry Could Pose a Challenge for FTC, December 21, 2003 The new antispam law calls for the FTC to explore the feasibility of a do-not-e-mail list. But critics say most spammers would ignore the registry, or worse, try to hack into it to harvest e-mail addresses. Defenders say the registry would play a crucial role in keeping spam out of consumers' inboxes. Here are answers to some questions about the debate. Advocates, Critics Weigh In on New Antispam Legislation, November 25, 2003 After passage in the House and Senate, new antispam legislation is headed for President Bush's desk. Critics and advocates of the bill weigh in on its likely effectiveness. Efforts to Expand Net-Tax Ban Make Senate Passage Uncertain, November 6, 2003 What looked several months ago like a routine effort to make permanent a five-year ban on Internet-access taxes has transformed into a bitter congressional battle. Here are answers to some questions about the legislative debate. Terror Readiness Site Ready.gov Slowly Expands Beyond English, July 29, 2003 Como se dice "duct tape"? For the millions of Americans who don't read English well, the federal government doesn't have the answer -- at least not at terror-preparedness site Ready.gov. Like most federal-government sites, it's only available in English. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Local Governments Look to Cellphone-Based Alerts, June 12, 2003 Could cellphone text messages save lives? Emergency alert systems that would allow governments to send text messages to wireless devices have gained traction in recent months. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. IAEA's ElBaradei Believes Iraq Isn't Mission Impossible, December 17, 2002 Mohamed ElBaradei must overcome steep odds to uncover any nuclear-weapons program that Iraq has developed. But the International Atomic Energy Agency's chief believes diplomacy -- and a tougher U.N. resolution -- will help him to succeed. Jody Shenn co-wrote this article. Rebuilding Downtown: Key Players, August 26, 2002 This interactive graphic detailed who has the money and who has the power in the struggle to rebuild at the site of the former World Trade Center. Back to Top Cellphones Losing Cellphone No Longer Means Loss of Contacts, October 6, 2004 New tools are making it easier for cellphone users who lose or break their phones to piece back together their phonebooks. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Effort to Broadcast Alerts to Cellphones Gains Steam, September 28, 2004 Long-running efforts to transmit alerts to cellphones in the event of dangerous weather, terror attacks or other emergencies are gaining momentum. Convention Wire: The Single-Gadget Theory; Private Parties; A Low-Key Protest, September 3, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Reporters try covering the convention with just their cellphones, snapping pictures and filing stories by text message; the liquor flows in MSG's private suites; and a low-key protest. Convention Wire: Blocked Call; Another Round; Yacht's Up With That?, September 2, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: T-Mobile subscribers struggle to receive protest update text messages; this Bud's for conventiongoers; and the GOP unabashedly parties on yachts and yacht clubs. Get the Word Out, August 31, 2004 Text-messaging has emerged as a major political force in New York, helping protesters swap everything from meeting times and locations to reports on police activity. Some Republican delegates are using similar technology to keep updated on dinners and speeches. Nokia Takes a Risk in Putting New Phone on the Big Screen, August 26, 2004 In the upcoming film "Cellular," the title character is a snazzy new Nokia Inc. videophone -- the result of a risky product placement by the Finnish cellphone maker. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Choosing Cell Over Landline Can Bring Unexpected Pain, July 9, 2004 Think twice before you cut the cord. All kinds of services -- from satellite TV to security systems -- require a traditional phone line, and going cell-only can even make it tough to get a credit card or order a pizza. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. Companies Offer Services to Track Cellphone Minutes, July 6, 2004 Avoiding cellphone overage charges can be a major concern for wireless customers. A number of companies are now offering services to help wireless users stay on top of their minute count. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Pick a Portability Number, May 23, 2004 When it comes to so-called number portability, the numbers keep changing. In tallying how many phone numbers have been transferred between carriers from November through April, the FCC bumped up its initial figure twice in just over a week, eventually putting the number of switches a lot higher than initially reported. Portability FAQ, Round 2, May 19, 2004 Updated tips for people looking to switch their cellphone carrier while keeping their number. Major League Baseball, Sprint in Cellphone Deal, May 6, 2004 Major League Baseball games are coming to Sprint PCS cellphones. The league's interactive arm is working with start-up Idetic to offer Sprint users a video-like highlights channel and 30 game-audio channels -- one for each team. NBA Announces Deal to Feed Highlights to Nokia Cellphones, May 3, 2004 The NBA announced a deal with Nokia to stream nightly 20-second video highlights clips to high-end Nokia cellphones, starting with the league's championship series next month. AT&T Wireless Lowers Prices on Plans, Cellphones, April 1, 2004 AT&T Wireless is rolling out cheaper calling plans and free fancy phones, in a bid to steady its shaky subscriber base ahead of its planned acquisition by Cingular Wireless. Jesse Drucker co-wrote this article. Dining at the Captain's Table? Please Turn Off Your Cellphone, March 17, 2004 The next frontier for cellphone service: international waters. AT&T Wireless has formed a joint venture with Maritime Telecommunications Network to sell wireless service to cruise operators. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Study, FCC Numbers Show Portability Picture Improving, March 1, 2004 The process of transferring cellphone numbers to a new carrier has gotten markedly better, but more than one in seven switches still go awry, according to a survey of wireless retailers. The latest figures from the FCC on consumer complaints about so-called number portability paint a similar picture. Calling Portability's Winners Now That Numbers Are In, February 19, 2004 Wireless number portability's winners and losers are shaping up largely as expected: Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile made big gains, while AT&T Wireless appeared to lose ground. Many Cellphone Switchers Ignore 'Number Portability', February 19, 2004 More than half of U.S. wireless customers who switched carriers after so-called number portability rules took effect didn't bother to transfer their numbers. AT&T Wireless Leads in Portability Complaints, January 29, 2004 AT&T Wireless, which is soliciting acquisition offers, was named in nearly half of consumer complaints about transferring cellphone numbers between carriers, according to figures by the FCC. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. The Leading Cellular Service -- in Customer Complaints, January 27, 2004 AT&T Wireless has won a dubious distinction in an industry that consumers love to gripe about. For the past year, the wireless provider consistently has had the highest customer complaint rate of any national carrier, according to complaints received by the FCC and obtained by The Wall Street Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request. Jesse Drucker co-wrote this article. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Verizon Wireless Leads Customer-Satisfaction Survey, January 7, 2004 Verizon Wireless swept the latest ranking of cellular-telephone carriers by Consumer Reports magazine. The survey takes on added importance as consumers can now keep their phone numbers when they change carriers -- removing a significant hurdle to switching. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Portability Problems Persist, Raising Questions for Carriers, December 2, 2003 A week after rules took effect letting cellphone users take their number to a new carrier, major glitches continue to plague the process. The latest in a regular feature leading up to and following the Nov. 24 deadline for carriers to allow cellphone users to take their numbers with them to a new provider. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: With Phone-Number Portability, There Are No Easy Questions, November 27, 2003 Transferring your home number to your cellphone is complicated enough, but if your request is at all out of the ordinary, the frustration could be enough to make you trash both phones. Plus, an update on some early switchers. Portability Notebook: Switching Wireless Clients See Delays, November 26, 2003 Many wireless customers have run into delays in their efforts to switch carriers under new number-portability rules. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Cellphone Stores Report Mixed Signals on Portability, November 24, 2003 On the first day of portability, cellphone stores report light demand. Plus two items from Jen Ryan and Michelle Rama of Dow Jones Newswires. A version of this article co-written by Jesse Drucker appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: A House's Materials Can Act as Blocker of Cellphone Calls, November 21, 2003 Consumers considering transferring their landline number to a cellphone should first take a quick Physics 101 course: The material of their homes may have a big effect on how well cellphone service works within its walls. Plus, why makers of cellphone games may benefit from portability. Portability Notebook: FCC, Census Bureau Differ on Areas That Make Up Top 100, November 20, 2003 Number portability will begin in the nation's top 100 metro areas by population. But defining what these are isn't so simple. Portability Notebook: Wireless Carriers Should Target 'Quality' Customers, Analyst Says, November 19, 2003 Wireless carriers looking to lure competitors' subscribers should keep in mind the mantra "quality, not quantity," advises an analyst. Plus, more intercarrier porting deals. Portability Notebook: Debts Can Still Haunt Switchers; Regulators Give Portability Pitch, November 18, 2003 Old phone debts could be a problem for people who want to switch carriers. Plus, an item by Dow Jones Newswires reporter Mark Wigfield. The Web's Best Sites On Number Portability, November 17, 2003 Links to sites that offer help in choosing a new wireless carrier. The Big Switch, November 17, 2003 What portability means for carriers, handset makers, small businesses and more. Portability Notebook: What the FCC Means by 'Local', November 17, 2003 How you can move to a new city and still benefit from "local" number portability. Plus, two items from Dow Jones Newswires reporters Christine Nuzum and Mark Wigfield. Portability Notebook: Verizon Wireless, Sprint Force Hands of Smaller Cell Carriers, November 16, 2003 How two large carriers helped ensure that portability goes nationwide on May 24. Plus, more intercarrier number-transfer deals, and why they don't matter as much as you might think. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Portability Notebook: Portability Rules Won't Make Cell Photos Any More Mobile, November 13, 2003 Your camera-phone photos won't be as portable as your phone number. Plus, more gadgets to help cut the cord. Portability Notebook: Largent Discusses Complexity Behind Portability's Curtain, November 12, 2003 A glimpse at the inner workings of transferring your number to a new carrier. Plus, portability deals a blow to telemarketers; and a survey offers hope and challenges to the local phone company. Portability Notebook: Dock-n-Talk Tries to Make Cell a Better Home Phone, November 11, 2003 Dock-n-Talk aims to make it easier to ditch your landline. Plus, a wireless exectuive lashes out at the FCC. Portability Notebook: Why It May Be Worth Waiting to Switch, November 10, 2003 Thousands of people will change cellular providers on "portability day," and that may be a good reason not to be among them. Plus, an underused Web marketing tactic to lure potential switchers. Portability Notebook: The Double-Edged Sword of Carriers' Web Marketing, November 7, 2003 Are wireless carriers' own Web sites making users more curious to switch? Plus, assessing the cost of landline number portability. First in a regular feature leading up to the Nov. 24 deadline for carriers to allow cellphone users to take their numbers with them to a new provider. Small Cellphone Shops Await 'Portability' With Hope, Anxiety, October 28, 2003 Third-party cellphone anticipate a surge in business when portability starts, but many say they are in the dark about how the number transfers will work -- and may be ill-equipped to handle the expected heavy demand. Jennifer Saranow co-wrote this article. FCC Portability Guidelines Don't Address Landline Switches, October 8, 2003 The FCC clarified some uncertainties about rules allowing cellphone users to keep their phone numbers while switching carriers, but didn't address crucial questions about switching numbers between landlines and cellphones. A version of this article co-written by Dow Jones Newswires' Mark Wigfield appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Crunching Number Portability, September 10, 2003 After years of delays, wireless customers will soon be able to keep their phone numbers when they switch carriers. But portability is fraught with complications, and carriers are still scrambling to figure out how the system will work. Will it happen by the November deadline? Is my town covered? And other frequently asked questions. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. (I also contributed to this related article by Jane Spencer, which appeared on the front page of the Personal Journal section.) RealNetworks and Sprint PCS to Unveil Cellphone Media Offer, August 11, 2003 RealNetworks and Sprint PCS announced a package of paid audio and visual content, an important test of U.S. cellphone users' appetite for multimedia services. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Cellphone Food-Ordering Hits Fenway, July 18, 2003 Fenway Park has become the latest baseball stadium to offer cellphone-based food orders, offering the service to fans in 396 box seats at Boston Red Sox home games. Roto-Rooter Is Flush With New Technology, July 17, 2003 GPS phones are taking their place alongside wrenches and hand-snakes as essential plumbers' tools. Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest plumbing company, is using satellite technology to dispatch its technicians. Quick Fix: E-Mailing a Mobile Phone, July 1, 2003 Instead of scrambling for paper and a pen to jot down an address while clutching a mobile phone to your ear, have the caller e-mail the information. Sound tough? It's not. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Make 'Number Portability' Easy, Says Chief of Verizon Wireless, June 24, 2003 Verizon Wireless's CEO called on the rest of the wireless industry to make it easy for their customers to keep their numbers when switching carriers, and said it would charge such customers no fees for switching. Tech Q&A: MmO2 Tests 3G Waters on Remote Isle of Man, June 23, 2003 On the tiny Isle of Man, the future of wireless is taking shape. That, at least, is the hope of British carrier mmO2. We talked to Chris Hall, managing director of the 3G project. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe. DoCoMo USA Chief Urges U.S. Carriers to Offer 3G, June 20, 2003 U.S. wireless carriers should launch next-generation services to increase market share, the chief of NTT DoCoMo's U.S. unit said. But the Japanese company's experience with 3G underscores the challenges other carriers likely will face. Local Governments Look to Cellphone-Based Alerts, June 12, 2003 Could cellphone text messages save lives? Emergency alert systems that would allow governments to send text messages to wireless devices have gained traction in recent months. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Ballparks Let Fans Order Food From Seats by Using Cellphones, June 4, 2003 Every other entertainment venue is trying to ban cellphones these days, but not the ballpark. Around the country, teams are encouraging fans to use their phones to do more than just call up their buddy in seat F34 and wave. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Creative Offerings May Be Key to Get Messaging Off the Bench, June 3, 2003 In-stadium cellphone applications using text-messaging and wireless Internet are part of a broader strategy by wireless carriers to lure Americans to thumb away on their handsets. This article and the following one were written as an online sidebar for the above article. Tech Q&A: Mike Veeck, co-owner of five minor-league baseball teams, June 3, 2003 Mike Veeck has never met a baseball promotion he didn't like -- unless it involved technology. But now he's come full-circle, and is on the cutting edge of in-stadium cellphone food-ordering. 'American Idol' Gives Lift to Text Messaging, May 23, 2003 AT&T Wireless's chief said 2.5 million votes were cast by wireless text messaging during Wednesday's finale of "American Idol." He said the service experienced strong growth over the course of the four-month series. Back to Top E-mail/Spam Reports on Spam Levels Paint Differing Views of the Problem, September 21, 2004 When Congress debated last year whether to pass an antispam law, statistics on the volume of junk e-mail messages were frequently trotted out as evidence of the clear and present threat. But a closer look at the numbers suggests they may be a shaky foundation for lawmakers -- and companies deciding how best to spend their information-technology dollars -- to rely on. The most referred-to statistics come from reports issued by vendors of antispam software, and their estimates are often wildly divergent. Google Tests E-Mail Marketing, but Market Potential Is Unclear, January 22, 2004 Google's new push into e-mail marketing isn't a slam dunk. Early testers of its new e-mail advertising product, which hasn't been formally launched, say they are mostly pleased with the results. But growing consumer disenchantment with e-mail newsletters may limit the size of the e-mail market. Proposed Do-Not-Spam Registry Could Pose a Challenge for FTC, December 21, 2003 The new antispam law calls for the FTC to explore the feasibility of a do-not-e-mail list. But critics say most spammers would ignore the registry, or worse, try to hack into it to harvest e-mail addresses. Defenders say the registry would play a crucial role in keeping spam out of consumers' inboxes. Here are answers to some questions about the debate. Advocates, Critics Weigh In on New Antispam Legislation, November 25, 2003 After passage in the House and Senate, new antispam legislation is headed for President Bush's desk. Critics and advocates of the bill weigh in on its likely effectiveness. Sendmail to Sell Antispam Tool From Newcomer Cloudmark, November 3, 2003 Sendmail, a provider of corporate tools for handling e-mail, announced a partnership with start-up Cloudmark to sell that company's antispam software in an effort to get a piece of the growing market for fighting junk e-mail. E-Mail Services Firm IronPort Announces New VC Funding, October 27, 2003 IronPort Systems announced that it has secured an additional $14 million in financing, in another sign that the flood of spam into e-mail users' inboxes is accelerating demand for weapons to fight it. Cloudmark Plans System to Let Good E-Mail Avoid Spam Filters, September 18, 2003 Legitimate e-mail advertising and newsletters, increasingly a casualty of the spam wars, may get a boost. Cloudmark introduced a program that aims to prevent legitimate commercial e-mail messages from getting blocked as unsolicited junk mail. Stacy Forster co-wrote this article. Tech Q&A: Wall Street Firms Curb Access to Personal E-Mail, August 13, 2003 An increasing number of financial-services firms are blocking their workers from accessing personal e-mail accounts from America Online, Yahoo, Hotmail and others. We talk with Raymond James's vice president of information security, Gene Fredriksen, about why his firm is going to start blocking personal e-mail accounts next month, how he'll do it and what the new rules cost. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal Europe, on the front page of the Money & Investing section. Consumer Reports Picks Top Antispam Software, July 9, 2003 In the first-ever ratings of junk-e-mail-blocking software by the influential Consumer Reports magazine, the top spot was nabbed by SAProxy, a free program from a little-known start-up. Back to Top Gadgets Convention Wire: The Single-Gadget Theory; Private Parties; A Low-Key Protest, September 3, 2004 I wrote three of the items in this daily feature of news and notes from the Republican convention, including: Reporters try covering the convention with just their cellphones, snapping pictures and filing stories by text message; the liquor flows in MSG's private suites; and a low-key protest. Nokia Takes a Risk in Putting New Phone on the Big Screen, August 26, 2004 In the upcoming film "Cellular," the title character is a snazzy new Nokia Inc. videophone -- the result of a risky product placement by the Finnish cellphone maker. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. GPS Technology Has Limits in Locating Hostages in Iraq, June 28, 2004 Satellite technology has been used in the U.S. to track cars, employees, children and even pets. But can it help find soldiers and contractors abducted in Iraq and other hot spots around the globe? Attendees Fight Lines at Electronics Show, January 11, 2004 The crowds at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas underscore growing interest in home gadgets, especially flat-screen TVs equipped to connect to the Web and other devices. CES Notebook: Couch Potatoes Need Not Play, January 9, 2004 Meet Xavix, a videogame system that promises to make gamers sweat. Plus, Netscape's second act; the tricky nomenclature of USB flash drives; RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser warns the film industry; and other news and notes from the big Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Fossil and Suunto's Smart Watch to Use Microsoft's MSN Direct, January 9, 2004 A year after first announcing the technology for a smart watch -- capable of accessing weather and news updates, instant messages and Outlook calendars -- Microsoft introduced the watches at the Consumer Electronics Show. CES Notebook: New Oven Takes Orders From Net, January 8, 2004 In a next-generation home on the grounds of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, an oven that can both cool and heat food anchors the futuristic kitchen. Plus, a home-security robot that can send pictures to your cellphones; the Energizer Bunny drums up attention; CES's high Taxi Index; and other news and notes from the big gadgets show. Portability Notebook: Portability Rules Won't Make Cell Photos Any More Mobile, November 13, 2003 Your camera-phone photos won't be as portable as your phone number. Plus, more gadgets to help cut the cord. Portability Notebook: Dock-n-Talk Tries to Make Cell a Better Home Phone, November 11, 2003 Dock-n-Talk aims to make it easier to ditch your landline. Plus, a wireless exectuive lashes out at the FCC. Buzzless Tech Trade Show Has Some Small Treasures, September 17, 2003 The technology sector may be showing signs of a rebound, but that hasn't translated into much buzz at the TechXNY technology trade show and conference. Still, some gadgets from smaller tech companies caught our eye, including a pen-shaped scanner that reads and translates typewritten text, and software for connecting conference attendees that works like online dating services. Dow Jones Newswires' Donna Fuscaldo co-wrote this article. Getting Unplugged Sheds Light on What Is Wired These Days, August 18, 2003 For the better part of a decade, the digital dream has been a wireless, cashless, instantly connected society. But when the lights went out on Thursday, one thing was clear: When you're unplugged, even very simple tasks can prove to be impossible. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page. Susan Warren and Melanie Trottman were lead writers on the piece; I contributed two paragraphs and took the photo of George Zamfotis that was turned into a dot drawing. High-Tech Takes Back Seat to Candles, Flashlights, Radio, August 15, 2003 The blackout forced many people to adjust to 24 hours without modern comforts and technologies. Enter candles, portable radios, rooftop slumbers and other flashbacks to an earlier era. Jennifer Saranow contributed to this article. Fun and Funky Gadgets From CeBIT's U.S. Debut, June 20, 2003 Gadgets at CeBIT America were more sparse than at the flagship German trade show, but a handful of offbeat gizmos managed to get our attention. Katherine Meyer contributed to this article. Tech Q&A: Michael McCreary, vice-president for R&D at E Ink, April 29, 2002 Your newspaper may someday consist of one sheet of electronic paper, continually updated wirelessly with the latest news. So say the people at E Ink, makers of technology that would be integral to such futuristic broadsheets. Back to Top Other Technology Tech Q&A: Microsoft's Secret Codes, December 22, 2004 Microsoft analyst Paul DeGroot discusses the software giant's setback in an EU court, the ruling's impact on business buyers, and security implications. AOL to Offer Antivirus Tools Without an Additional Charge, October 28, 2004 America Online plans to offer McAfee's antivirus software to all of its customers at no additional charge, the latest move by the Internet giant to try to stem subscriber defections. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tech Q&A: Netflix's CEO Is Mobilizing for Battle With Amazon, October 20, 2004 After a rough week for the company he founded, Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings talks about new competitive threats, leading his company's 1,000 employees and the challenges he sees ahead. GPS Technology Has Limits in Locating Hostages in Iraq, June 28, 2004 Satellite technology has been used in the U.S. to track cars, employees, children and even pets. But can it help find soldiers and contractors abducted in Iraq and other hot spots around the globe? Stopping Sasser, May 3, 2004 A guide to removing the Sasser Internet worm. Thomson Taps MarketWatch to Replace Reuters Content, April 1, 2004 Thomson Financial moved to replace financial news from Reuters Group PLC with content from MarketWatch.com on computer terminals of financial-services clients, signaling heightened rivalry between Thomson and Reuters. Digit: Hiker Help, March 11, 2004 Outdoors types usually take to the trails to get away from it all, but increasingly hikers are relying on high-tech gadgets to make sure they don't get lost. (Third item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tech Q&A: Despite High-Profile Attacks, Web Security Remains Shaky, February 24, 2004 Web security remains a hit-or-miss affair. With other vulnerabilities increasingly protected, hackers are turning to Web applications to access companies' confidential information on customers. We talk to security expert Larry Ponemon about the underlying causes of inadequate security and what consumers should look out for. Comcast Talks Up Benefits Of Merger With Disney, February 11, 2004 Breaking down the motivation behind Comcast's bombshell bid for Disney. Value Meals, December 10, 2003 A Popeyes franchisee embraces talking, deal-making cash registers as the future of fast food. Written for a technology special report for WSJ.com. Some Say Food Software Could Work Too Well, December 10, 2003 Among the biggest believers in the power of deal-making technology to boost restaurant sales: obesity researchers and critics of fast-food chains. Written as a sidebar for the above article, as part of a technology special report for WSJ.com. Quick Fix: Updating an Address Book, November 18, 2003 Some of your friends and business associates have a new phone number and address, but you've still got their old contact information in your Outlook address book. Here are three programs that make it easier to update their contact information. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Digit: Bill Joy Meditates.com, November 13, 2003 Sun Microsystems Inc. co-founder and influential programmer Bill Joy plans an 8-foot-high by 12-foot-wide meditative wall projecting calming images in an apartment he is renovating in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan. (Second item in this weekly feature on technology.) Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Efforts to Expand Net-Tax Ban Make Senate Passage Uncertain, November 6, 2003 What looked several months ago like a routine effort to make permanent a five-year ban on Internet-access taxes has transformed into a bitter congressional battle. Here are answers to some questions about the legislative debate. Radio Reporter Tests Wi-Fi for Filing Stories on the Go, October 17, 2003 Will tomorrow's reporters need a pen, notebook -- and Wi-Fi? ABC News's radio operation is looking to find out, through a current trial here and in Washington, D.C., using the wireless Internet technology. A day with one of its reporters shows the flexibility of Wi-Fi, but also its technological glitches. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. America Online Launches New Service AOL Latino, October 1, 2003 In a bid to expand its market share in the burgeoning cohort of U.S. Hispanics, America Online introduced a revamped and expanded version of its Spanish-language AOL Latino service. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Tech Q&A: Keeping Up With Hackers, Viruses, September 24, 2003 Hackers and virus writers have gotten faster at their craft, sparking a wave of worm attacks. We talk to computer security expert Gerhard Eschelbeck about the outlook for consumers and companies looking to keep their computers secure. Accelerators Breathe New Life Into Dial-Up Internet Service, September 10, 2003 Will dial-up have a second act? Hundreds of thousands of Internet users have signed up for "acceleration services," which use technological tricks to speed up a traditional dial-up Internet connection. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Personal Journal section. Internet Bug Is a Boon to Tech-Security Firms, August 15, 2003 The Blaster computer worm, which has attacked hundreds of thousands of computers world-wide, has boosted business at computer-security firms as consumers and small businesses scramble to protect themselves. Josef Federman and Jennifer Saranow contributed to this article. Woofing for Youth, July 24, 2003 Bow Wow: rapper, actor -- computer addict? The performer, age 16, touted Computers for Youth, a not-for-profit group that distributes computers to New York City middle-school students and provides technical training and support. (Last item) Tech Q&A: David Garrison, chief executive of STSN, a provider of wireless Internet access to hotels and conferences, June 17, 2003 Will the business travelers of tomorrow demand wireless Internet access? Mr. Garrison says yes, and that hotels will have to offer Wi-Fi service to keep their business customers. New Voicemail Services Hope to Challenge Answering Machine, May 27, 2003 AOL and Microsoft hope their new voicemail offerings will bring the age of the machine to a close. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. NBA Takes a Shot at HD Television, April 29, 2003 The NBA plans to air two hours of daily high-definition television, in the latest move by sports programmers to lure more fans to buy HD sets and subscribe to HD services. How Do You Narrow Your Product Options?, March 17, 2003 The founders of HandyLab developed a groundbreaking medical-testing device -- but how does a small company decide which market to target? Written for a small-business special report for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. (Also at this free site.) It Shoots, It Scores! Robots Play Soccer, June 20, 2002 Robotic dogs and humanoids battle it out for android soccer supremacy at RoboCup 2002 in Japan. Tech Q&A: Victor Bergonzoli, president of Dartfish USA, March 26, 2002 The makers of SimulCam, the technology that showed two skiers side by side during the Olympics, project big things for their video innovations. Back to Top Sports U.S. Open Notebook, August 31-September 12, 2005 Items on the brilliance of Roger Federer; a wish list for advanced tennis stats; Agassi-Blake's brisk pace; the advantages of the cheaper seats; journalists' secret weapon; a replay dispute; a blogging tennis player sparks controversy; and more. Tie Breaker, September 8, 2005 It's only a matter of time until some form of video replay review becomes a part of major tennis tournaments. If it does it could reshape the sport. Players will be able to challenge line calls that go against them, instead of just checking the television replays later and complaining about them. Billionaire NBA Owner's Gamble on a Hedge Fund Faces Long Odds, December 9, 2004 Mark Cuban's proposal to launch a sports-gambling hedge fund is itself a big wager. To succeed, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks will have to scour the market for complex bets, while overcoming steep logistical and regulatory hurdles. To the Winners..., October 18, 2004 ...go a lot of spoils -- as well as some bad feelings. A look at how players on baseball's playoff teams divvy up their share of the loot. Written for a special report on the World Series for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Staging a Comeback, September 7, 2004 Leander Paes may be the best story at this year's U.S. Open. A year ago, the Indian tennis player and national hero was in a hospital bed grateful to be alive. Now a healthy and happy Mr. Paes is launching runs in the men's and mixed draws at Flushing Meadows. Tricks of the Trade: Autograph Collector's Tips, March 31, 2004 Stephen Cohn explains how he's collected more than 7,000 baseball autographs. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Narrowing the Gender Gap, March 15, 2004 Women's basketball has become a powerhouse in college sports -- nowhere more than at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. But, as March Madness shows, big disparities with the men remain. Written for a special report on the NCAA tournament for the print edition of the Wall Street Journal. Stars of NCAA Basketball Are Students All the Same, March 15, 2004 Many schools make their student e-mail directory available to the public. To see how accessible are college basketball's brightest stars -- who are at the same time celebrities and students -- we delivered five questions to their e-mail addresses. Find out who responded, and what they had to say. Written as an online sidebar for a special report on the NCAA tournament. Jim Chairusmi co-wrote this article. Computers, Digital Technology Put Calls of NBA Referees to the Test, March 5, 2004 The fine art of refereeing a professional basketball game is fast becoming a science, thanks to digital technology and stepped-up performance monitoring. Also appeared in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, on the front page of the Marketplace section. Tricks of the Trade: A Top Performer Retires, January 21, 2004 How former NBA star David Robinson handled his retirement. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. Should the Outcome of a Coin Flip Mean So Much in NFL Overtime?, December 23, 2003 A collection of schemes -- from academics, fans and pro clubs -- to replace the coin toss in determining first possession in NFL overtime games. At What Cost? Sifting for Value Among Baseball's Free Agents, November 20, 2003 With a stocked market of free agents, baseball's general managers are going on a holiday shopping spree. Among the 210 players who have gone on the open market are catcher Javy Lopez, shortstop Miguel Tejada and pitcher Andy Pettitte. But how to value all of that talent? We provide a guide. Tricks of the Trade: Pro Shortstop's New Glove, September 10, 2003 How All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez cares for his gloves. Written for the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal. An Unlikely Crowd Favorite Reaches Open Quarterfinals, September 5, 2003 Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui advanced to the quarterfinals at tennis's U.S. Open and, in the process, solidified his unlikely role as a crowd favorite. At Age 14, Tennis Phenom Julia Cohen Is Set on Pros, September 2, 2003 Julia Cohen, 14 years old, says she hates school and hates the prospect of going to college even more. That may be the ideal attitude for her career of choice: professional tennis. A Rainy Day at the U.S. Open: Virtual Tennis & Backgammon, September 2, 2003 A light but steady rain delayed most matches at the U.S. Open on Monday, but there was plenty of action off the courts, from fans and players competing in virtual tennis matches to umpires in heated backgammon competition. Here are some snapshots of a rainy day at Flushing Meadows. Sabermetrics Goes Mainstream, July 1, 2003 With the publication of the bestseller "Moneyball," baseball's stats geeks finally have gone mainstream. So why do baseball writers rely on outmoded stats? Written for the Leisure & Arts page of The Wall Street Journal. Back to Top Other Topics BBC Is Victim of Hoax in Report on Bhopal, December 6, 2004 The BBC was forced to retract part of a high-profile report marking the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal chemical disaster, after the broadcaster interviewed a prankster posing as a Dow Chemical spokesman. The hoax appears to be the work of two veteran saboteurs who target corporations and government organizations and have gone after Dow Chemical before. Martha Stewart Living Stock Takes a Roller-Coaster Ride, March 6, 2004 Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went on a roller-coaster ride, with the stock surging as much as 20% ahead of a verdict in the trial of the company's founder, but then plunged after trading resumed following a half-hour halt surrounding the reading of that guilty verdict. (Also contributed to this related ">Heard on the Street column, which appeared on the front page of the Money & Investing section March 8.) The Afternoon Report: OPEC Makes Aggressive Move To Curb Output, Lift Oil Prices, February 10, 2004 OPEC moved aggressively to keep oil prices high, setting plans to cut production by about 9% and sparking fears that the move could stall the nascent global economic recovery. Plus, see the earlier edition. (Filling in on this roundup and analysis of the day's top stories.) Herbert Ouida: Votives Tribute Counters 'Ugliness of That Day', November 19, 2003 Several times since the attacks Mr. Ouida has visited Ground Zero, but he said the cold pit evoked no hope, "just the ugliness of that day." Now that he has glimpsed what is to come, he is happily surprised. He was especially moved by the design called Votives in Suspension. His son Todd was killed in the attacks; his office was destroyed. The first of five reactions to memorial proposals for the site of the World Trade Center, from victims' family members and survivors of the attacks. Meyer Feig: Finding a Sense of a Community in 'Suspending Memory' Design, November 19, 2003 The Suspending Memory memorial design would give visitors the best sense of the community that was lost on Sept. 11, Feig says. Feig's office was destroyed in the attacks. Mary Fetchet: Group Gives Failing Grades to Eight Finalists' Designs, November 19, 2003 Fetchet fails all memorial proposals for one reason: None incorporated access to the bedrock of the World Trade Center site beneath the footprints of the towers. Fetchet's son, stock trader Bradley Fetchet, was killed in the attacks. Monica Iken: Widow of Sept. 11 Victim Finds Eight Winners Among Finalists, November 19, 2003 "I'm blown away," Iken said after seeing the eight memorial proposals. "I could put myself in any one of those and go, wow, I can be there and connect to my husband." Iken's husband, bondtrader Michael Iken, was killed in the attacks. Michael Burke: Memorials Should Reflect Contrast of Good and Evil, November 19, 2003 The proposals for a World Trade Center memorial reflect the loss of life suffered on Sept. 11, 2001, Burke says. But they don't contain a strong sense of good and evil. Burke's brother, fire captain William F. Burke Jr., was killed in the attacks. The Afternoon Report: Despite Better Jobs Data, Reason to Worry Remains, August 7, 2003 The troubled labor market is showing signs of recovery, but the economy's explosive productivity growth remains a short-term hurdle. (Filling in on this roundup and analysis of the day's top stories.) The Afternoon Report: EU Charges Put Microsoft Back Under the Microscope, August 6, 2003 The specter of legal troubles at the software giant has resurfaced in Brussels. (Filling in on this roundup and analysis of the day's top stories.) Money's Worth: Let your property work for you, February 27, 2003 These homes are approaching the $600,000 range, but offer income from attached rental units to help ease the bite. IAEA's ElBaradei Believes Iraq Isn't Mission Impossible, December 17, 2002 Mohamed ElBaradei must overcome steep odds to uncover any nuclear-weapons program that Iraq has developed. But the International Atomic Energy Agency's chief believes diplomacy -- and a tougher U.N. resolution -- will help him to succeed. Jody Shenn co-wrote this article. Rebuilding Downtown: Key Players, August 26, 2002 This interactive graphic detailed who has the money and who has the power in the struggle to rebuild at the site of the former World Trade Center. World Cup Links of the Day, June 3 - July 1, 2002 This daily feature provided links to the Web's best sites, articles, features and games on the World Cup, along with some snappy commentary. Co-compiled with Jim Chairusmi. This feature was praised in an Online Journalism Review roundup of websites' World Cup coverage (scroll halfway down). Flashback: Sex-Change Operation Leaves Kansas Man's Estate in Dispute, June 12, 2002 In this installment of an online feature updating Page One articles, I look at the case of a Kansas estate dispute centering around the gender of the woman who claims the estate. She was born a man, then underwent a sex-change operation. Kansas courts rule she remains a man; she plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, lawyers and transgendered activists watch on intently. Back to Top