(1) Gardner's 2000 machine-tool survey, over at <http://www.gardnerweb.com/consump/produce.html>, reveals that the EU was responsible for 54% of world machine-tool output in 1999, East Asia weighed in at 32.5%, while the US produced only 12.6% (machine-tools are the DNA of any industrial base, i.e. machines which produce other machines).
(2) Capital investment in Taiwan is reaching astonishing heights; foundry firm TSMC is planning to invest almost as much as Intel this year, despite revenues which are maybe 14% those of Intel's. For the details, see: <http://www.semibiznews.com/st/news/story/OEG20000224S0002>
-- Dennis