Why is Europe's economy sluggish? "Younger Europeans tend to think that 'jobs' come from outside, from others, rather than from one's own creativity." Social democracy imposes such heavy business costs that few people dare to start new companies. [Michael Novak, Forbes, 8/2/93.]

The average lifetime is 2.4B seconds, or 683,280 hours. To help you use yours to the fullest, The Sharper Image now offers a $99.95 Personal Life Clock that displays the time you have left. [Edward Yardeni, Forbes, 12/6/93.]

DDUMPS are deliberately downwardly mobile professionals. To find one, look in places like Telluride, CO, for telecommuting consultants, freelancers, and "lone eagles." 10M people have set up shop at home, many of them in resort towns. Many make $150K/year, according to Center for the New West (Denver). Towns such as Durango, CO, Pullman, WA, and Buffalo, WY, actively court them with upgraded telecommunications capability. [Sandra D. Atchison, BW, 11/15/93.]

What's the "best" you could do? Apple says that John Sculley will get approximately $1M salary and $.4M bonus for 1993, $1M severance, $.75M for another year as a consultant, $2.24M in stock options, and moving expenses. (He's had better years.) Apple will also buy his Lear jet and his home in Woodside at fair market value. [Newsbytes, 11/27. Bill Park.]

Need a business presence in the US? Bureau West (Los Angeles) will set up a voice mail system or live operators, compile names of potential customers, implement a direct-mail or fax campaign, or set up a complete office for your part-time use. Jay Zaltzman (jaywest@delphi.com), (213) 656-6226, (213) 656-0360 Fax. [biz.comp.services, 10/27/93.]

International Product Marketing (Australia) helps establish software distribution and business relationships with Australian and Asian companies. They are very interested in commercializing university projects. IPM has branches in the US and Asia. For information, contact Chris Hills (ipm@tmx.mhs.oz.au), 011 612 953 4562 voice/fax. [12/21/93.]

The Washington Technology Group Inc. is looking for mainframe/mini software that it can market to the US government. Should be similar to a successful private-sector product, at least 51% American-made, not yet licensed to the government, and with a unit price of at least $25K. jfedewa@washtec.com, (703) 971-0777 x140, (703) 971-0799 Fax. [SEML, 12/9/93. Bill Park.]