AMERICA OUT OF LINE

“In no way do we violate members’ privacy. We’re able to reach our members with ads that they’re more interested in.”

Myer Berlow, senior VP of interactive marketing at America Online, on AOL’s questionable use of credit card databases to target banner ads to consumers, Advertising Age, 20 October 1997

HIGH IN FIBER, LOW IN BRAND

“Brand and scale don’t mean so much any more, but you have to own the assets and facilities.”

WorldCom COO John Sidgmore, explaining the reasons behind his company’s bid for MCI’s well-branded, large-scale communications network, ZDNN, 16 October 1997

ONE, TWO, BUTTON YOUR SHOE; THREE, FOUR, UNINSTALL IE 4

“There is no question in my mind that going into the new millennium technology will fundamentally change the way children play.”

Jill Barad, Mattell’s CEO, on her company’s financing of an MIT Media Lab project on the future of toys, New York Times CyberTimes, 15 October 1997

DON’T TAX YOU, DON’T TAX ME, TAX THAT FELLOW AT AMD

“In the absence of open competition, consumers will pay a monopolistic tax. AMD is here to cut your taxes.”

Advanced Micro Devices CEO Jerry Sanders, on why CPU buyers should pad his salary, not Intel CEO Andy Grove’s, News.com, 14 October 1997

YOU HAVE TO LOSE MONEY TO MAKE MONEY

“We announced that our revenues were lower, our losses were higher and our stock went up $3. The Internet is its own phenomenon.”

CNET CEO Halsey Minor at the Macromedia User’s Conference, on his company’s third-quarter results, Upside.com, 10 October 1997