WHAT'S NEWS?

Test your knowledge of current industry events with the following quiz

1. Montana Sen. Conrad Burns wants to overhaul the government's management of wireless spectrum. Critics already oppose the legislation because:

   a. Too many similar plans are on the table

   b. Nothing will be resolved until the NextWave case goes to trial

   c. They're confusing Burns with actor Conrad Bain, who played Mr. Drummond on “Diff'rent Strokes”

2. The New York Attorney General alleged that Merrill Lynch privately smeared companies while publicly recommending them. Investigators cite as evidence e-mails that claimed:

   a. InfoSpace is a “piece of junk”

   b. Aether has “horrible” fundamentals

   c. The Pets.com sock puppet had a $1000-a-day cocaine habit

3. The new “CEO Link,” a network connecting government leaders to some of high-tech's most influential executives, will primarily be used to:

   a. Keep the White House and Silicon Valley in contact in case of a terrorist attack

   b. Monitor the nation's telecom systems in the event of an emergency

   c. Call President Bush at all hours of the night to ask if his refrigerator is running

4. Sony Music Europe released the latest Celine Dion album in a copy-protected format, which cannot be played on either PCs or Macs. Proponents argue:

   a. Unauthorized CD copying must stop

   b. Artists must assert greater control of their own copyrighted material

   c. Preventing people from listening to Celine Dion is a victory for all humankind

The above quiz offers a combination of news and entertainment, and should not be mistaken for either.