Now What?
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

Welcome to 2009, everybody. For the first time in I can't remember how long, I actually took much of the vacation that was my due, and I spent lots of time with friends and family eating and drinking and horsing around. I feel human again, even if it is in relation to what still remains a troubling economy and a difficult world. Guild Companies, which publishes the Four Hundred stack of newsletters, made it through 2008, and provided there are a whole lot less shocks this year, it looks like we will be here to serve the AS/400 community in 2009. READ MORE >

IT Doing Better Than Other Careers in 2009
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

There are worse careers to be in than information technology, apparently, even if the pressure is increasing to do more with less and there is always the threat of outsourcing or some other services-style IT looming just out beyond the next paycheck. According to the most recent job forecast put together by CareerBuilder.com, IT is among the few areas where managers expect to add employees in the coming year. READ MORE >

Strengthening Dollar Whacks Oracle's Second Fiscal Quarter
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

As odd as this may seem, a strengthening U.S. dollar hurt the financial results that software giant Oracle reported for its second quarter of fiscal 2009 ended November 30. Considering the self-inflicted wounds in 2008 that the U.S. economy is trying to heal from, you might think that a stronger dollar would be a good thing. But as Oracle's most recent results show, a strong dollar is only good when U.S. companies are buying a lot more stuff than overseas customers. READ MORE >

As I See It: The Rhythm of Things Unseen
by Victor Rozek

It's a new year, with an about-to-be new president, but the same old questions are on the collective minds of Americans, and they're about the economy. 'How the hell did this happen?' It's the question Robert B. Parker calls humanity's cry, and given the state of things, it should probably replace 'In God We Trust on our shrinking currency. READ MORE >