The Fresno Bee from Fresno, California • 32

Friday, August 11, 1995 The Fresno Bee Bob looks to be doing a fast fade But Microsoft says rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. By Michelle Quinn San I Francisco Chronicle REDMOND, WASH. What ever happened to Bob? Bob is Microsoft cutesy, easy-to-use software program that gives new computer users a cartoon-filled introduction course for computers. Bob came out last spring, when the product's logo a smiley-face character with Buddy Holly glasses appeared everywhere. Bob was supposed to draw the techno-nervous into the computer age.

And while it may be too early to say Bob is a has-been, its vital signs don't look good. The company won't give any sales figures, except to say that since Bob hit store shelves on March 31, sales have been comparable to other products in their first three months. But a spokesman with the NPD Group, a market research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y., did ad-. mit that sales have been weak in May and June. In another sign of flagging health, Bob's price is being dramatically cut in coming weeks.

Bob will soon be available for $49, down from the current suggested retail price of $99. "We made a mistake," said Ruthann Lorentzen, director of marketing for Microsoft's consumer division. "We put the price too high." In addition to price cutting, Microsoft will come out with a new and supposedly improved version of Bob sometime in 1996. Microsoft, with the help of two Stanford professors, created Bob after years of examining the psychology of new users. They designed a personalized living room that pops up when users turn on the computer, creating 11 characters that learn the users' computer strengths and weaknesses and pipe up with helpful suggestions.

Critics lambasted the program in January as too patronizing for even the new computer owner. Microsoft's response was that software reviewers were too savvy to appreciate Bob's appeal to computer neophytes. In the past month, Bob's store presence has diminished, with Bob posters lingering near the emergency exit doors. But Bob is not fading away, Lorentzen added. "We are completely behind Bob," said Lorentzen, who admitted that her devotion to Bob is beyond that of any Microsoft product.

"We all want Bob to succeed," she said. Netscape IPO shows Nasdaq still has clout Associated Press WASHINGTON Despite balky computers, nosy government investigators and other headaches, the Nasdaq Stock Market continues to wield substantial clout on Wall Street, as evidenced by the enormous investor interest in Netscape Communications Corp. Netscape, maker of a popular "browser" software for the Internet, was a major hit on Wall Street this week. Its shares bolted up times the offering price of $28 a share in heavy trading Wednesday on Nasdaq. The trading storm underlines the growth in Nasdaq, which links dealers worldwide through a network of computers and telephone lines.

Since its creation in 1971, the market which emphasizes technology or biotechnology stocks has grown larger than the American Stock Exchange and threatened to surpass the New York Stock Exchange in some measures of market size. Netscape adds to the list of 179 initial public offerings that raised more than $7.24 billion on Nasdaq during the first six months of the year. That exceeds the 22 IPOs on the rival New York Stock Exchange which raised $6.13 billion, according to Securities Data Co. While attracting a healthy amount of new business, Nasdaq also is witnessing a surge in trading volume it hit a record 597.51 million shares on July 19. Earlier that month, the market passed a milestone, reaching a market capitalization of more than $1 trillion.

A bright debut for Oakley Maker of pricey sunglasses betting on hip image and ad campaign to keep product moving and stock price rising. Dylan Ratigan Bloomberg Business News IRVINE Oakley Inc. shares jumped 18 percent in the first day of trading after the company's initial public offering, as investors rushed to buy stock in the designer and maker of sport sunglasses. The shares, priced yesterday at $23 for the initial sale to the public, closed at $27.125 in trading of 7.42 million shares, the sixth most active issue in U.S. markets.

Earlier in the day, the shares traded as high as $28.25. At the company's promotional stop in New York, Oakley showed a flashy video of snowboarders, surfers and other athletes wearing the company's shades. The video featured a song, "Livin' on the Edge," said people who attended the promotional lunch on Tuesday. "Isn't America a great country?" were the first words out of company founder Jim Jannard's mouth after the video, according those in attendance. Of the $230 million raised in the 10 million-share offering, $154 million, or 67 percent, went to Oakley insiders.

The company got the remaining $76 million. The Irvine, company said it will use the cash to build a new plant and pay back $35 million in debt. Insiders didn't say what they were going to with their proceeds. Oakley is betting that a hip image, scratch-resistant lenses For latest information on tomorrow's touch-tone phone. Services for George "Joe" Aden, 73, of Fresno, will be held at 9 a.m.

Saturday at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel. Mr. Aden, a retired district manager for Applied Powers, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel.

BARHAM, BETTY Graveside services for Betty Barham, 70, of Clovis, will be held at 1 p.m. today at Clovis Cemetery. Mrs. Barham, a homemaker, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 10 a.m.

to noon today at Clovis Funeral Chapel. CHRISTIAN, ELIZABETH Graveside services for Elizabeth Christian, 83, of Fresno, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Fresno Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Christian, a retired saleswoman for Luftenburg's, died Tuesday.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Lisle Funeral Home. Remembrances may be sent to Hy-Long Convalescent Hospital, 3408 E. Shields Fresno 93726.

COLLIER, ALLEN EUGENE Services for Allen Eugene Collier, 70, of Pasadena, formerly of Fresno, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Tinkler Funeral 1 Chapel Crematory. Mr. Collier, a cabdriver for Yellow Cab for 10 years, died Tuesday. CULBERTSON, ABBIE Services for Abbie Culbertson, 69, of Tulare, were held under the direction of Miller's Tulare Funeral Home.

Mrs. Culbertson, a homemaker, died Monday. FLIPPO, LENA M. Graveside services for Lena M. Flippo, 65, of Madera, will be held at 9 a.m.

Monday at Arbor Vitae Cemetery. Mrs. Flippo, a homemaker, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Jay Chapel.

Remembrances may be sent to the American Lung Association, P.O. Box 11187, Fresno 93772. FREY, BETTE J. Graveside services for Bette J. Frey, 74, of Corcoran, will be held at 2 p.m.

Monday at Corcoran Cemetery. Mrs. Frey, a bookkeeper for J.G. Boswell Co. for 36 years before retiring, died Wednesday.

People's Hanford Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. HANSEN, LOUIS A. Services for Louis A. Hansen, 99, of Corcoran, will be held' at 10 a.m. Monday at People's Hanford Funeral Chapel.

Mr. Hansen, a rancher, will' died Wednesday. Visitation be from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the chapel. Remembrances may be sent to the Armona Union Academy, P.O.

Box 397, Armona 93202. HARVEY, ARCHIBALD A rosary for Archibald Harvey, 88, of Visalia, will be recited at 12143 27721 Associated Press Made in the shades. Oakley chairman Jim Jannard, left, and NYSE Richard Grasso ham it up at listing ceremonies on exchange floor. and an advertising campaign lion for the quarter ended that touts "thermonuclear pro- March 31, compared with net tection" will keep its sun- income of $1.9 million, on revglasses, costing from $40 to enue of $26.1 million a year $220 a pop, rolling out the door. "This company's margins are sky high, and it cannot make sunglasses fast enough," Standard Poor's analyst Robert Natale said in a report.

Natale said he expects 1996 earnings of $1.35 a share for the company, saying his estimate was conservative. Oakley reported net income of $3.8 million, or 11 cents a share, on revenue of $36.6 mil- OBITUARIES obituaries, call Beeline, 443-2400, 7 p.m. today at Miller Memorial Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday at St.

Mary's Catholic Church. Mr. Harvey, a retired superintendent for Our Lady of Mercy Church in New Jersey, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from noon to 7 p.m. today at the chapel.

HICKS, LOUIS STERLING Graveside services for Louis Sterling Hicks, 64, of Walnut Creek, formerly of Fresno, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fresno Memorial Gardens. Mr. Hicks, a draftsman for the Ted Toland died Monday. Remembrances may be sent to the donor's favorite charity.

Lisle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. HILL, WAYNE JERL Graveside services for Wayne Jerl Hill, 50, of Porterville, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Mr. Hill, a farm laborer, died Tuesday.

Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Myers Funeral Chapel. KILGORE, FLOYD EARL Graveside services for Floyd Earl Kilgore, 94, of Tulare, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Tulare District Cemetery. Mr.

Kilgore, a retired printer for the Tulare Advance Register and the Exeter Sun, died Tuesday. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to noon Monday at Goble-Miller Funeral Chapel. Remembrances may be sent to the Union Printers Home, 101 S.

Union Colo- rado Springs, CO 80910. KINCADE, GENEVA PEARL Graveside services charge of arrangements. LASHER, BARBARA JUNE for Geneva Pearl Kincade, 79, of Laton, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Oak Grove Cemetery in Laton. Mrs.

Kincade, a homemaker, died Wednesday. Page Funeral Chapel in Selma is in held Services for Barbara June Lasher, 70, of Clovis, will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, Fresno North Stake Center, 220 N. Peach Avenue, Clovis. Mrs.

Lasher, a data processor for Alphameric Data Processing, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. today at the church. Wildrose Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. MULLICAN, 'DOC' D.

Services for "Doc" D. Mullican, 77, of Shafter, formerly of Porterville, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Church of God in Shafter. Mr. Mullican, an ironworker for Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco for 20 years, died Wednesday.

Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Clinton plan to aid providers of mobile data services Associated Press Cable and Comcast a conWASHINGTON Companies sortium of cellular companies of building the next generation of Nynex, Bell Atlantic, US West cellular phone and paging sys- and Air Touch, and won tems may get some relief from licenses to provide the new moPresident Clinton on one of their bile phone service at an FCC biggest headaches: finding sites auction. to put up transmission towers. The FCC has auctioned hunClinton on Thursday directed dreds of licenses for the new the federal government to craft a phone and data services and policy within 90 days to give plans to auction more licenses companies easier access to feder- later this year. al land to locate transmission The cellular industry hailed towers.

Clinton's action. The issue is critically impor- "This will speed up the deploytant to companies that have won ment of personal communicalicenses from the Federal Com- tions services throughout the munications Commission to pro- country," said Michael Houghvide a host of new mobile ser- ton, spokesman for Cellular vices, called personal Telecommunications Industry communications. Association. Those services include a new The new policy won't pre-empt phone service that is more mo- federal, state and local laws and bile and less expensive than ex- regulations and would be sensiisting cellular and two-way pag- tive to protecting national parks ing, messaging, fax and other and wildlife refuges. And, it data services.

won't include lands held by the Companies including Sprint in United States in trust for indian alliance with cable companies viduals or Indian tribal governTelecommunications Cox ments. Funeral Services Funerals Today ADEN, GEORGE C. funeral services will be held at Whitehurst Chapel on Saturday, August 12, 1995 at 9 a.m. COLLIER, ALLEN EUGENE, Funeral service at Tinkler Funeral Crematory Friday, August 11, 1995, 2 p.m. on, BARHAM, BETTY graveside aervices will be held at Clovis Cemetery on Friday, August, 11, 1995 at 1 p.m.

BUTLER, JOHN JOSEPH, graveside service at Clovis Cemetery on Friday, August 11, 1995, at 11 a.m. MURRIETA, MARY ROBLES. Funeral Mass at St. John's Cathedral on Friday, August 11, 1995, at 9 a.m. SEBILIAN, BAGRAD (BEN), Funeral services in Holy Trinity Armenian Church Friday, August 11, 1995, at 10 a.m.

WASHBURN, AGNES GENEVA, funeral services at Wallin Son Funeral Home on Friday, August 11, 1995, at 10 a.m. WILLIAMS, Sr. JOSEPH CLINTON, funeral service at Lisle Funeral Home on Friday, August 11, 1995, at 9 a.m. Funerals Tomorrow ADEN, GEORGE C. funeral services will be held at Whitehurst Chapel on Saturday, August 12, 1995 at 9 a.m.

CHRISTIAN, graveside ELIZABETH service at Fresno Memorial Gardens, on Saturday, August 12, 1995, at 10 a.m. LEE, WILLAMAE, memorial service at Chapel of the Light Saturday, August 19, 1995, at 11 a.m. MAYEDA, KEN, memorial service at the United Japanese Christian Church, Clovis on Saturday, August 12, 1995, at 11:30 a.m. NOLTE, LINDA DIANE memorial services at Lisle Funeral Home on Saturday, August 12, 1995 at 10 a.m. Funeral Services ALVAREZ, SALLY in Fresno, August 9, 1995.

Age 68. She volunteer at Fresno Community Hospital for 11 yrs. She is survived by her husband, Tony Alvarez; children, Jeannie Wisman, Rachel Rodriguez, both of Long beach, Robert Liera, and Jenny Avila, both of Fresno; siblings, Eva Montano, Nash Espinosa, Fernie Espinosa, and Gilbert Liera; grandchildren, Bobby, Arthur and Jimmy Rodriguez, Christina Martinez, Anthony Wisman, Robert Liera, and Alex and Isabel Avila. Services will be held at Tuesday, Bean Chapel on Stephens 10 a.m. Interment Belmont August 15, 1995 at Memorial Park.

Visitation on Sunday, August 13, 1995 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rosary on Monday, August 14, 1995 at 7 p.m. STEPHENS BEAN 268-9292 BELMONT MEMORIAL PARK 237-6185 A Funeral Services ADEN, GEORGE C. born July 23, 1921, died August 9, 1995 after short illness.

Born in West St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Aden is a WWII veteran who resided in Fresno since 1956. ago.

The company didn't provide per-share data for the year -earlier period. There are 35.7 million shares outstanding after the offering, which, at an offering price of $23, values the company at about $821.1 million. The offering was priced $4 a share higher than the high end of its original $17 to $19 range. The shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "00." after 6 p.m. Punch in 2102 on your Myers Funeral Chapel.

NOLTE, LINDA DIANE Memorial services for Linda Diane Nolte, 44, of Fresno, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Lisle Calaveras Chapel of Lisle Funeral Home. Ms. Nolte, a legal secretary for Kevin Gunner, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 10 a.m.

to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. PHEBUS, RUBY IRENE Graveside services for Ruby Irene Phebus, 80, of Clovis, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Clovis Cemetery. Mrs.

Phebus, a homemaker, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Boice Funeral Home. RIEFFEL, KENNY Services for Kenny Rieffel, 83, of Kingsburg, will be held at 10 a.m.

Monday at United Methodist Church. 1 Mr. Rieffel, a retired grocer, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Creighton Memorial Chapel.

Remembrances may be sent to the Kingsburg Historical Society, 1841 22nd Kingsburg 93631 or to Kingsburg United Methodist Church, 1590 Smith Kingsburg 93631. STEINBRECHER, ALPHA E. Services for Alpha E. Steinbrecher, 77, of Fresno, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Boice Funeral Home Chapel.

Mrs. Steinbrecher, a travel agent for 20 years, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Sunday at the chapel. Remembrances may be sent to the American Lung Association, P.O. Box 1187, Fresno 93772-1187. SURGEST, MICHAEL R.

Graveside services for Michael R. Surgest, 10, of Hanford, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hanford Cemetery. Michael, the son of Dawn Surgest of Long Beach, died Tuesday. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m.

Saturday at People's Hanford Funeral Chapel. WASHBURN, AGNES GENEVA Services for Agnes Geneva Washburn, 76, of Fresno, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Wallin Son Funeral Home. Mrs. Washburn, a homemaker, died Monday.

YOUNG, JUNE CAROLYN Graveside services for June Carolyn Young, 74, of Coarsegold, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Oakhill Cemetery in Oakhurst. Mrs. Young, a private caregiver for four years for the Madera County Welfare Department, died Wednesday. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m.

Monday at Sierra Funeral Chapel in Oakhurst. He is preceded in death by son, George, Jr. He is survived his wife, Ann; sons, John and Barry; daughter, Marianne Kroger; 3 brothers, Elmer, Ernest, and Harold Aden; ten grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at Whitehurst Chapel on Saturday, August 12, 1995 at 9 a.m. Interment at Clovis Cemetery.

Visitation at Whitehurst Chapel on Friday, August 11, 1995 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHITEHURST CHAPEL FRESNO 1525 E. Saginaw 227-4048 BARHAM, BETTY, of Clovis, August 9, 1995. Age 70.

Mother of Steve Miller of Clovis, Marlene Reed and Beth Hunt both of Kentucky. Sister of Tom Higgason Clovis and Kenny Lazier of Santa Cruz. Grandmother of 4, great grandmother of 8. Graveside Services will be held at Cemetery on Friday, August, 11, 1995 at 1 p.m. Visitation Friday from 10 a.m.

until noon in the Clovis Funeral Chapel. CLOVIS FUNERAL CHAPEL 1302 Clovis AV Clovis 298-7536 In Memoriam LASHER, BARBARA, In Memory of our beloved friend and employee Barbara Lasher, Alphameric Data Processing will be closed on Friday, August 11, 1995. Funeral Directors BUCHHEIM FAMILY Palm-Colonial Chapel 233-7267 Kerman Chapel 846-9369 Coalinga Chapel 935-3338 LA PAZ FUNERAL HOME MEMORY CHAPEL 1022 'B' Street 237-7700 CHAPEL OF THE LIGHT FUNERAL HOME FRESNO 233-6254 WALLIN FUNERAL HOMES Wallin Son Funeral Home, Sanger Fowler Funeral Home Wallin's Riverdale Funeral Home Sanger 875-6555 Fowler 834-2531 Riverdale 867-4451 TINKLER FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORY 475 N. Broadway at Belmont 233-2101 STEPHENS BEAN 268-9292 BELMONT MEMORIAL PARK 237-6185 HERITAGE FUNERAL SERVICES 3000 E. Tulare, Fresno 224-2273 YOST WEBB CHAPEL Tulare St.

237-4147 CAIRNS FUNERAL HOME 940 Street, Reedley 638-2233 WHITEHURST CHAPEL FRESNO 1525 E. Saginaw 227-4048 CLOVIS FUNERAL CHAPEL 1302 Clovis Av Clovis 298-7536 LISLE FUNERAL HOME FRESNO 266-0666 NEPTUNE SOCIETY-CREMATION FRESNO 24 hour 222-7764 PAGE CHAPEL 896-1240 BOICE FUNERAL HOME 308 Pollasky, Clovis 299-4372 Cemeteries Fresno Memorial Gardens 175 S. Cornelia Ave. 268-7823.