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2007-04-02 Home Front: Culture Wars

IBM Gives Feds $45M in Translation Tech - honours employee's soldier son

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Posted by trailing wife 2007-04-02 16:29|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I just left IBM after 9 years (took a bigger job elsewhere). I'm still very much connected to the company. Probably alwasy will be. IBM is a great company. They (it's still hard not saying "we") went through some very tough years that caused a lot of soul searching. And there are core values that really do drive how people think and act. IBM'ers truly do believe that IBM is a company that can make the world a better place.

Posted by PlanetDan">PlanetDan 2007-04-02 17:08|| 2007-04-02 17:08|| Front Page Top

#2 What's the line on when the Donks start screaming about (fill in the blank) on this?
On a serious note: Is there any other thing in the works that IBM could profit from that this could be legitimately seen as currying favor?????

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-04-02 17:22|| 2007-04-02 17:22|| Front Page Top

#3 Still baffles me why corporations don't have this as a common practice. I find this not to be a PR gesture, but a sincere effort to help.

The major airlines (where my background lies) "contribute" by law aircraft for troop lift. Companies do accommodate reserves on active duty.

But, otherwise, the US corporations could be doing so much more.

Posted by Captain America 2007-04-02 17:27|| 2007-04-02 17:27|| Front Page Top

#4 CA: do the airlines really contribute, or are they obligated to as part of the CRAF? If they are CRAF, they get a subsidy as part of the agreement. I can only remember one time in all the years I flew as active duty getting any sort of a 'bennie:' TWA held a plane at the gate at SEA-TAC so I could get it (Emergency leave) when my Dad was dying and I was going to Kalamazoo.
Turned out he didn't then, but I remember the kindness that flight crew gave me; I always flew them until they went under.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-04-02 17:48|| 2007-04-02 17:48|| Front Page Top

#5 Way back when, IBM gave universities a 'deal' (or free) 360 system mainframe computers. Their competitors eventually prevailed against them in court on the grounds that it was an anti-competitive practice, that it got students all 'used to' IBM systems and products so they would demand the same when they got out into the commercial world.
Seemed to me the better response by DEC or whoever would have been to give their stuff to universities too, and let the best platform win.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2007-04-02 19:20|| 2007-04-02 19:20|| Front Page Top

#6 a nice gesture, regardless of whether it benefits the company in the long run or not. Were it Di-
Fi's husband's company, the NYT, et al would be parading it as "See? we support our troops!"

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-04-02 20:00|| 2007-04-02 20:00|| Front Page Top

#7 The CRAF Agreement encompasses three or more levels CRAF-1, CRAF-2, CRAF-3, etc. Each level with its own requirements and subsidy for carriage. The agreement has been in existence since WW-II.

The biggest expense to the commercial carriers is opportunity cost, the ability to utilize the aircraft for normal purposes.

That said, airline management and employees (particularly pilots) get a morale boost in carrying military.

Posted by Captain America 2007-04-02 20:47|| 2007-04-02 20:47|| Front Page Top

#8 Speaking here as an IBM stockholder (and retiree), normally I get upset when I hear about IBM giving anything away. In this case, all I can do is applaud.

Posted by Rambler">Rambler 2007-04-02 21:23|| 2007-04-02 21:23|| Front Page Top

#9 I'm a shareholder too. Bravo Zulu IBM!

Posted by Mac 2007-04-02 23:46|| 2007-04-02 23:46|| Front Page Top

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