 |
Google vs. Microsoft, Exxon is Evil, FISA Fight Updates, and The Beatles In Space |
 |
Microsoft announced a $44.6 billion takeover bid to buy Yahoo, whose share price soared on the news. This would turn the search world into a two player game, Microsoft vs. Google. While I don’t have a lot of faith in Microsoft as a company - they seem to have failed at just about every Internet venture they’ve tried their hand at - they’ve got money and power to put in play, so who knows how this might work out.
In other business news, Exxon Mobil posted another year of record profits - $40.6 billion. Sorry folks, there is such a thing as too rich and too successful. Exxon and other oil companies make record profits while the rest of the economy falters. It’s not right, and it should be stopped.
In perhaps the coolest bit of news I’ve heard all week, NASA will broadcast a Beatles song towards the North Star, Polaris. Any guesses on what song? You’re right! It’s “Across the Universe.”
The New York Times has a great article on Jessica Valenti, Feministing, feminism, and blogging. (h/t Matt Browner-Hamlin)
From The Blogs
Matt also has an update on where the FISA debate is headed on Monday, which amendments are up for votes, and how many votes are needed to pass them. Head over to Firedoglake to find out which Senators to call.
Video Of The Day
Keith Olbermann gets it right (as usual) on FISA, Bush, and spineless Republicans.
Open thread! I’m off to party at the Swedish embassy. If you’re in DC, come join! Otherwise, talk amongst yourselves…
party at the swedish embassy?! what is this, flummery?
regardless, have fun!
i like the idea of the beatles in space…
Hell yeah, House of Sweden After Dark. http://www.houseofswedenafterdark.com/House_of_Sweden_After_Dark.html
Google is my favorite American corporation. As we all watched the Yahoo! front page clutter with more and more advertisements - eventually even flash ad’s and streaming video - Google held firm to the most basic premise of commerce: providing the best product / service to your customers that you can.
With the kind of moral fortitude and business ethics that Google has shown throughout its long and auspicious growth, I have every confidence that not even Microsoft can take it down.
Perhaps therein is why I fancy the Google team so much. They are the last visible bastion of integrity’s survival whilst in the public eye; The only model I can see in the American corporate-scape of a business whose success can be directly pinned to its unflappable willingness to sacrifice potential profit in favor of uncompromised product quality.
Despite the $500 per share value of Google’s stock, I still see them as the little guys… Because they still act like it. Their focus is on quality, while their competitors - much as most of corporate America - opts instead for quantity.
And don’t bring me that “Google in China” crap. There is nothing to that argument that makes the least bit of sense, nor anything that quantifies a compromise of Google’s mission statement. If anything, it reinforces their status as the world’s last virtuous corporate entity.
Google: Shine on you crazy diamond. Maybe someday, someone will look to your example and realize that you CAN accomplish great things without necessarily selling your soul in the process.
I agree with you.
I mean, from a principle standpoint, I feel more consolidation in the search space isn’t a good thing. Google controls a lot, and they will probably control more in the future. It should give pause.
That said, Google has by and large lived up to its unofficial motto of “Don’t Be Evil.” I’m willing to continue giving them the benefit of the doubt, especially because they act like a small company so much of the time.
The products are great, and they have trust. They’re ok in my book.
I have just been sent an email supposedly to be from EXXON Mobil announcing my being awarded a US$3,000,000. Some aggreement between Microsoft and Exxon.
This is unbelievable.
Is this some sort of a scam?????