Daily Archives: March 25, 2008

Google: We see no evil.

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I’m very disappointed in the Google board’s recommended decision to reject a shareholder request for a human rights committee and anti-censorship rules.

These decisions make Google’s claims to be improving search around the globe ring somewhat  … hollow:  Official Google Blog: Making search better in Catalonia, Estonia, and everywhere else

Here are the details:
www.investor.google.com/documents/2008_notice_n_proxy_statement.html

I have a longer post about this  this over at WebGuild

Over there I wrote:

This is a sad day for Google and the recommendation is a death blow to their now transparently specious “Do No Evil” mantra. Google has an obligation to promote human rights within the reasonably confines of their business structure and goals. In this obligation, they have now dramatically failed.

Yahoo Microsoft: Is the fat lady almost singing at $34?

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Henry Blodget is whining that the Yahoo Microsoft deal is back to where it started, but I think Henry’s wrong … again!     

I’m glad Henry was wrong about the rumor that Yahoo’s Q4 would beat expectations because it was part of the reason I bought YHOO then, and even though the stock dipped due to a bad Q4, it surged on Microsoft’s offer of $31 per share so I’m well in the black.   But now he’s wrong to say the deal is not almost done.  I think this Yahoo Microsoft merger is coming very soon to an internet near you.

Citibank Analyst Maheney upgraded Yahoo this morning, anticipating a boost in the MS bid to $34.   Hey, maybe he read my blog post of about 6 weeks ago where I suggested Microsoft raise their bid to $34?    

Unlike Henry, I think this is not back to where it all started at all!

Yang didn’t want to merge, now he sees it as almost inevitable.  Yahoo board wanted more, now they know anything past initial offer is gravy.  Part of the show was probably the board protecting itself against lawsuits from the unlucky minions who bought their Yahoo at $35+, some at over $100.

Barring a Q1 miracle that would recalibrate Yahoo prices without help of MS bids, I think the fat lady is now almost done singing on this deal.

 Disclosure:  long on YHOO

Craiglist Prank = horse stealin’

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I’m reporting a remarkable local story from Jacksonville, Oregon that strains even one’s interenet sensibilities about a guy in Jacksonville who had his horse and property stolen after Craigslist postings said it was up for grabs.   The incredible part is that after the guy returned home the people would not stop taking his stuff, citing the Craigslist ad as some sort of permission!     http://www.webguild.org/2008/03/craigslist-prank-listings-lead-to-major.php