Mosaic Symposium Puzzles the Puss

From: spencer_katt@ziffdavis.com
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2003 12:42 AM
To: eWEEK readers
Subject: Katt plays Silicon Prairie version of Wheres Waldo

When Spencer heard that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was hosting a symposium to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mosaic, he immediately began packing for the Silicon Prairie, land of boilermakers and cow tipping. As he leafed through the symposiums material, the Katt noticed that a piece of the Mosaic celebration was missing: The list of speakers for the event didnt include Marc Andreessen. Was the university still grumpy that Andreessen and the so-called Gang of Six rewrote the Mosaic browser they developed at the school and, along with Jim Clark, marketed it as Netscape? An inquiring Katt needed to know.

“We did invite him, but he turned us down,” said a spokeswoman for UIUC. “Theres hardly anyone at the college currently who was around back then. We couldnt see having the symposium without inviting him.”

A spokesman for Andreessen confirmed that Marc had received an invitation but said his schedule was currently “slammed,” thanks to his head-honcho duties at Opsware.

Undaunted, El Gato reviewed the list of speakers as he packed his bag. “Hmm, I wonder if Vinton Cerf would be up for some cow tipping?” chuckled the Puss.

The Mouser was amused to see that Judge Diana Gribbon Motz will recuse herself from hearing Microsofts appeal of a recent ruling by her husband, Judge J. Frederick Motz, that would force Redmond to provide compatibility with Suns Java in its software. Mrs. Motz—who sits on the appeals court bench in Richmond, Va.—routinely recuses herself from hearing appeals of rulings made by her husband. The judicious spouses both graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in the late 60s, and each worked in the U.S. Attorney Generals office. Hes a Republican appointed by Reagan, and shes a Democrat appointed by Clinton. “Sounds like Gates and McNealy may have stumbled into an old Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn movie,” laughed the Lynx.

Spencer thinks that Timeline, which contributed several components to Microsofts SQL Server, may have turned its collection of patent and licensing fees into a cottage industry. Last week, the company claimed that “patent licensing enforcement efforts have grossed more than $12 million to date and have the potential to contribute millions more in the future.” “Why put out new products when you can just sue your way to profitability,” groused the Grimalkin.

The Katt was shocked and awed to find that typing just a telephone number into Googles search bar will turn up a name, an address and a MapQuest link for any listed number. “Looks like 411.com may not have a monopoly on the stalker market anymore,” cackled the Kitty.

Check out the Katts latest Kattoon: “Spencer Katts Dream Mergers.”