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Each week, it seems, I look back on the previous week's column and do one of two things: I either brag about how right I was or admit that I had been a fool. This time I admit to being a bit of a knucklehead when it comes to DSL CLECs (competitive local exchange carriers). I figured everyone would want broadband access in the home and that DSL, which runs over existing copper, would be just the ticket. CLECs, I reckoned, would take off faster than a high school vandal running from the cops.

But a few things happened along the way. First, the DSL community came up with 20 some odd "standards," a sure technology killer if I’ve ever seen one. Second, the CLECs had some rather thin business plans and found it darn near impossible to turn a profit on plain old Internet access. Plus the idea of selling additional services like voice was just plain silly. People aren't going to switch from a proven phone company to an unproven CLEC! But, worst of all, the ILECs -- monopolies the CLECs were supposed to neuter -- did everything they, and their well-heeled lobbyists, could do to slow down the CLECs. The result? Tired old RBOCs have taken over, DSL rollouts are creeping along and yesterday's hottest CLECs are going belly up faster than a school of fish in Valdez, Alaska.

The latest casualties are Rhythms and Covad. Rhythms is shutting down its DSL service (one of Network Computing's labs got burned on this one), and Covad is filing for Chapter 11 (but hopes to ultimately stay in business). Want to buy a few Covad shares? One share costs about the same as a U.S. postage stamp. My big dilemma is whether to buy 50 shares of Covad or a case of Heineken for the weekend. At least I'll enjoy the Heineken as it goes down.

Squeaking Out a Profit

Cisco, which has put its competitors through hell, is going through a bad patch itself. The company announced that its profits for the quarter fell 99 percent from the same quarter last year. Despite the rather hideous market conditions, Cisco still managed to squeak out $7 million in profits. The news for this year, though, is not as good. The company has posted a billion-dollar loss. The big question is whether Cisco's strategy of acquiring company after company will prove effective when the economy comes back.

As the Worm Turns: When Bad Things Happen to Bad E-mail

How's this for a laugh. The Code Red worm apparently hit Microsoft's own HotMail servers. Of course, the danger can't be that great for a service where the owner (Microsoft, that is) feels free to delete your e-mail when you get too many messages.

Not for Nothing

Lazy journalists often fill their columns by making fun of press releases -- something that is really only of interest to other journalists. But when I got an e-mail from Allegro Networks, I couldn't resist. Apparently there are a lot of companies named Allegro. There is just plain Allegro, Allegro Resorts, Allegro Consultants, Allegro Music, Allegro Systems and Allegro MicroSystems. Obviously mistaking Allegro Networks for another Allegro, people have been congratulating company CEO David House (yes, of Intel and Bay Networks fame) on being acquired by Cisco.

The title of the press release denying a Cisco deal? "Allegro Networks Announces Nothing."