Google continues to take over the world (Conquer Australia first please)

[Antithesis]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/g...inue-taking-o/

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....nergy-logo.jpg

What Google wants, it largely gets. Need some proof of that? Fret not, as we've got plenty right here. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) just granted the internet behemoth authority to "buy and sell electricity in bulk like any other utility." As of now, it doesn't look like Google is jonesing to take on your local power provider, but rather to open up more avenues for acquiring power for its own good. Company spokeswoman Niki Fenwick noted that this filing was made so Google could have "more flexibility in procuring power for Google's own operations, including our data centers." That quote lines up with what we heard when this initiative was proposed just over a month ago, but considering that it's dabbling in the ISP business (and pretty much anything else it wants to), we wouldn't put it past 'em.

I don't know whether I should welcome our Google overlords or fear them.

[Blarg]

Buy n Larg... Google

[archibaldcrane]

Anti, you've really taken the sig to a whole new level this time.

[Rhinox]

Jesus. Real-life Shinra corp

[archibaldcrane]

Google would manufacture awesome materia if they wanted to get into that market.

[Not not Mattaru]

If they are using it for what they say, whatever that is fine, but otherwise sounds like Enron and California blackout goodness.

[Akucaen]

I still can't believe Google doesn't catch more shit for being a monopoly. Microsoft was never this ambitious.

That said more power to Google anyway. They're good at disrupting the norm and making things better for consumers.

[Correction]

Do people even know what the word 'monopoly' means anymore?

This is no different than McDonald's producing its own ingredients.

[archibaldcrane]

Vertical integration is not the same as monopoly.

[Baelorn]

Do people even know what the word 'monopoly' means anymore?

This is no different than McDonald's producing its own ingredients.

These days monopoly just means an already powerful corp becoming more powerful.

[archibaldcrane]

No.

[Pikarya]

Jesus. Real-life Shinra corp

this

[archibaldcrane]

They wouldn't exactly be blocking all that Seattle sunshine.

[Fistandantilus]

Fuck you both

Edit- just lol'd at the tags for this thread. "Australia conquer continues, google world". LolAustralia.

[6souls]

Ford Motor has their own hydroelectric power plant in Minnesota to use for their factory, I don't see what is so bad about Google making a plant for their business.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Cities_Assembly_Plant

[Baelorn]

The definition of Monopoly does not change because people don't know what it means.

That's exactly how the meaning of a word changes or expands...But that is beside the point.

The point is that people start crying monopoly when a corporation becomes more powerful than they think should be allowed. Public opinion can lead to an investigation(or at least, the appearance of an investigation). I don't think that will happen here, because nothing Google is doing is 'wrong', but it has happened before with other companies.

[Caiyuo]

I'm always a little leery of an already massive company expanding even further, but Google has those early internet olde timey roots that make them feel a lot more trustworthy along with the whole "we'll create a way to do everything on the internet you want to do even better" thing that everyone loves.

Because of that it also makes their faults show a fuckton more, like Buzz, which seems like it was smacked the fuck out before it was even able to fully stand up. I generally don't even know how to take news like this anymore other than cautious optimism.

[Cantih]

I generally don't even know how to take news like this anymore other than cautious optimism.

I'd be far more comforted if they hadn't let the "Don't be evil" motto lapse.

[Darus Grey]

The definition of Monopoly does not change because people don't know what it means.

Unrelated to thread, but I just wanted to chime in to say, yes, it does actually.

That is all.

[Rhinox]

Faggot has changed many times has it not?