2:10 PM –- From The Philter's Fat Lady file, Allen, Texas-based White Rock Networks Inc. is about to shut its doors as the company searches for a buyer. Here's an email sent around this morning by WRN management:
The Board of White Rock Networks decided today to furlough all but a skeleton staff of its U.S. employee team and suspend virtually all operations while it waits to see if its search for an acquirer can be quickly concluded. If not, White Rock will proceed to sell its key assets and wind the company down permanently.
"It gives me and our team no pleasure whatsoever to reach this juncture after nearly seven years of working hard to establish White Rock as one of the long term successful participants in the Metro Optical systems market place," said Lonnie Martin, Founder and CEO of White Rock. "Fundamentally, the Telecom Depression, and all of its residue, took too big and too long a toll on younger entrants like us, and at the end of the day we could not look our investors in the eye a sixth time and convince them that millions more in equity would make our future dramatically better."
White Rock's still-unique architectural approach of a lego-block-like optical transport product family established new bars for price/performance, compactness, low power consumption, and ease of use. Its products are now deployed in the networks of more than 130 U.S.-based ILECs, CLECs, CATVs, wireless, and institutional customers.
Limited Tier 1 TAC support will be provided between the hours of 9A and 5P CDT Monday through Friday excluding holidays until further notice. Our TAC number is 866-WHT-ROCK (866-948-7625).
re: White Rock Got RockedSent: Wednesday, October 04, 2000 4:32 PM To: WRN-ALL Subject: banana all gone
I came back from break room with a box of chocolate. All banana magically disappeared within couple of minutes.
The purpose of fruit snack is to keep employee from starving, someone apparently use it as lunch substitute. I would suggest we should cut the fruit into small pieces so more people can eat health snack. And If I spot he or she taking more than his or her fair share of fruit, I will ask he or she to replace me run the Whiterock lake marathon.
There are certainly some who advocate a hatred of achievement, but that is not what some of us are talking about. Someone who continues to make more money because they are driven to achievment is may have no issues at all.
Someone who expects that some amount of money is going to bring some missing equilibrium to their life is almost certain to be disappointed. It seems that such a person, upon achieving one level that they thought was "it", stays unhappy and sets a new target that they think will do the trick.
Most of the former would do just fine with whatever amount they have because they are comfortable in the pursuit of achievement. At least some of the latter are looking for some amount of money to quench their need for achievement.
I have never liked the American idea of "retirement", e.g. ceasing work or achievement of any type to relax all day. (not to say that this is the only view of retirement)
I thought that harly owners only spent money on upgrades to get acceptably loud pipes, not HP :)
Seriously, I was speaking more about chrome vs plastic on Harleys. It seems that almost all metric cruiser enthusiasts spend some money trying to squeeze out a few extra HP as well.
re: White Rock Got Rockedre:As you pointed out, some folks with multiple millions in the bank still feel driven to make more. This to me, is a deeper issue...
What's the deeper issue? Choosing work over a life of leisure?
re: White Rock Got RockedDoug, Thanks for the clarification - I agree that the amount of money in your investment account does not equal happiness, however - depending on your expectations [key word] once you reach a level of economic security, you can then pursue other "work" that may be more rewarding to you personally. I believe one choses happiness as a journey, not a destination....
As you pointed out, some folks with multiple millions in the bank still feel driven to make more. This to me, is a deeper issue...
At any rate, enjoy each day, as there is no promise of tomorrow for any of us.
Enjoy it, it sounds like you know what you're doing for certain.
I might disagree with your interpretation of "finished". A lot of Harley owners I know end up spending another 2-5K on Screamin' eagle accessories to get the motor HP up to acceptable levels :)
VMAx's are scary- fun as hell in a straight line, but the pucker factor in corners wears out the seat pretty quickly.
All in all, the Kawi will probably be a better ride- cetainly much more reliable, and cheaper to fix if it does fail.
re: White Rock Got RockedRegarding message 72, Coolhand what are you talking about?
WRN actually did use FPGA's to get into the market. They would not have had a product at all if they had waited on their ASIC's! It is probably true that the focus on cost reduction was misplaced so early in the development, but exactly how did WRN focus too much on technology?
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