News In Brief

Out of my way, MATE

It's pretty safe to assume that a mall outing this month will include hordes of plodding customers. If this isn't your cup of tea, check out this proposal at a London landmark. Merchants along Oxford Street, one of the world's most famous shopping addresses, are calling for the pavement to be divided into two lanes - one with a minimum walking speed of 3 m.p.h., enforced by marshals. Dawdlers would have to shell out some extra money during their shopping excursions: a fine of 10, ($14.34).

BRASS PLUMBING IS OPTIONAL

Beijing, which wants the host role for the 2008 Olympic Games, also is considering plans affecting the public. To wit: its restrooms. These facilities, often dirty and cramped, will be graded on a scale of one to four stars, the China Daily reports. It lists granite floors, sufficient lighting, and "lively music" among the qualifications for a four-star rating.

Captains of high-tech: Who's had the best year in 2000?

If the digital world were a sport, who would be its most valuable player this year? According to high-tech industry magazine UPSIDE, the answer isn't Bill Gates. In its December issue, the publication, which has rated the "elite" in the field for each of the past 10 years, gives the nod to Sun Microsystems chief Scott McNealy for his achievements and influence on the rest of the industry. UPSIDE's top 10:

1. Scott McNealy, chairman, Sun Microsystems

2. Larry Ellison, chairman, Oracle

3. Carly Fiorina, president, Hewlett-Packard

4. Steve Case, chairman, America Online

5. Steve Jobs, Apple Computer/Pixar Animation Systems

6. John Chambers, president, Cisco Systems

7. Bill Gates, chairman, Micro-soft

8. Thomas Siebel, chairman, Siebel Systems

9. Timothy Koogle, chairman, Yahoo Inc.

10. Bernard Ebbers, president, WorldCom

- Business Wire

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