Google Watch, Pakistan Watch, Kirk-Watch

All I have left is a judicial process take-home test, but it’s a doozy and my brain is dying.

So keeping it brief.

Google-Apple Monopoly Watch. Google CEO Eric Schmidt says it’s no big deal.

In a media session held Thursday before Google’s shareholders meeting in Mountain View, Schmidt said he hasn’t considered stepping down from Apple’s board because he doesn’t view the maker of the iPhone, iPod and computers as a “primary competitor.” He echoed that sentiment when a shareholder later asked him to step down from Apple’s board to avoid further government scrutiny.

…Walker told reporters that Google is “comfortable” that it doesn’t generate enough revenue in the same markets as Apple for Schmidt’s and Levinson’s dual roles on the companies’ boards to violate antitrust law.

Color me cynical. But I think antitrust laws are antitrust laws. They’re both tech. They’re both producing phones. It’s the principle of the thing. It sets a bad precedent. I think both these companies are good for the future of tech…they should set a good example.

Switching gears to Pakistan watch. Warring in the Swat Valley is producing thousands of refugees and people who are stuck in the middle of the violence.

A half a million people have either already left the Swat Valley and nearby districts or want to leave but can’t because of the fighting, Pakistani officials and the U.N. say, bringing the number of people likely to be displaced due to anti-militant offensives across Pakistan‘s volatile northwest region to 1 million.

..

Tens of thousands of people remain trapped in Mingora. Some have said the Taliban are not allowing them to leave, perhaps because they want to use them as “human shields” and make the army unwilling to use force.

“We want to leave the city, but we cannot go out because of the fighting,” said one resident, Hidayat Ullah. “We will be killed, our children will be killed, our women will be killed and these Taliban will escape.”

“Kill terrorists, but don’t harm us,” he pleaded.

Reading that gives me a pit in my stomach…I don’t feel good about the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan at all. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the U.S. have some sort of involvement in this fighting. I mean, it’s the Big Bad Taliban and part of Obama’s plan to “refocus” on Afghanistan. But if we’re getting civilians tangled up in this, what do you think that will do to the perceptions abroad that we’re supposedly trying to fix with this new administration?

Where do you think terrorists come from, anyway?

I have no problem with Pakistan taking control of its country. But you don’t make things more stable by killing your innocents. Being humane reaps a lot more benefits than merely a clear conscience.
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Today’s controversy: Star Trek, which I am seeing tonight in Christiansburg. Since it’s not a real controversy, here’s a video from Not a real news network:

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Noncompetitive behavior is the new Cool.

Phil the Pill Trying to Stay in College Edition. Today’s brief topic is:

The FTC investigating Apple and Google for violating the Clayton Antitrust Act. Both Google and Apple’s board share members – Eric Schmidt and Arthur Levinson. At the end of the day, it probably won’t be a big deal — but the board members may have to resign from one of the companies.

To get some insight into this, let’s turn to our Corporate Ethics expert, the Mac Guy. What do you think, Mac Guy?

“Hey, man, why is the FTC getting so bent out of shape? It’s Apple. It’s not like you’re dealing with Steve Ballmer here. I mean, that guy is a proven crook. You can tell by the fact that he wears ties. And why would Apple ever do anything against competition? Apple would soundly beat anyone in a straight competition – and it would look cool doing it. For the past six years Apple has been directly competing with Microsoft by selling $2800 prosumer computers and mocking $800 laptop PCs. And they won! They are now officially considered cooler. That’s how you win a competition. But, I digress. Apple doesn’t want anything to do with Google, man. Those guys are ****ing scary. I suspect those board members aren’t even humans, man. They’re the real prototype for the Google Android. Google is keeping tabs on Apple and if there’s anything fishy going on, it’s their doing. But even if Apple and Google were collaborating, what’s the big deal, man? They’re both hip. They’re both cool. I mean, don’t you want to get with the YouTunes movement? And hey, with Google iPirate, you’ll be able to get any Microsoft software for free. And if you combine the iPhone and the Andorid, you get an Autobot, no lie….Whoa, man. I don’t WANT the FTC to get involved in this. This would be wicked sweet. Only lamers would oppose antitrusts. Unless Microsoft is involved. Then it’s obviously illegal and unethical and an example of the Man trying to screw the Consumer. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to pay my Macbook Battery tax. I’ve got 15 minutes before my battery is programmed to explode.”

Disclaimer: I love my Macbook. Please don’t take it away from me, Apple.

Also, a word on Justice Souter retiring…Hispanic woman justice, woot woot?