Google drops a Google

Well, not really, but I always wondered what it would be like to actually see that as a headline. In any case, Google announced earnings today after the closing bell and they didn't meet eps targets that were set by many analysts.

Most analysts questioned (believe me, that's all it is) that Google would earn $1.76; however, they came in at an (post-charity donation) adjusted $1.54. Profits overall were up an astounding 80%!! Nonetheless, most shareholders sold in after-market trading like they thought the end of Web Advertising was imminent.

Shares were down as much as $68.17 (15.8%) in after-hours trading, the close price on the day was $432.66. A quote that I found interesting from the AP post:

The amount of shareholder wealth shed by Google during extended trading exceeds the current market value of General Motors Corp.

Wow!! Amazing to try and wrap your head around that statement. A couple of factors leading to Googles shortfall is the fact that costs for Sales and Marketing almost doubled from $76 Million in 2004 to $155 Million in 2005. The company also added nearly 700 people in Q4.

Is this the end of Google? Doubt it. Considering how many people do searches earch day (and the constant rate of growth of that number) also combined with the fact that more and more companies are increasing their spend on Search Advertising, Google's going to make a lot of money for many years to come.

Some things that I think are challenges for the company are:
-Increasing S&M costs.
-Expanding Internationally (see recent moves into China)
-Strategic Acquisitions (Rumors that Google was going to buy Napster are allegedly untrue)
-Click Fraud (By far, I think this represents the biggest threat to Google's business)

Should be interesting to see what happens.

Finally Another Hip-Hop Rivalry!!

Only, I wouldn't call this one a 'rivalry' in the traditional sense of the term, because the word rivalry implies that there is some sort of competition going on (which in this case, there's clearly not). I only blog about this article because it's all my friends and I have recently been talking about. Recently, Killa Cam (aka Cam'ron) produced and distributed a recent recording that slams Jigga-man Jay Z.

In his recent track "You Got It" Cam accuses Jay of essentially cock blocking him from becoming an exec at Rocafella Records. He also blames Jay of cheating former business partner Damon Dash. Killa Cam also takes a couple cheap shots at Jay's girlfriend Beyonce.

Let's get a couple things straight: first, Cam is not even close to being in the same league as Jay-Z. Can you name even five decent songs that Cam has ever recorded? Let alone five songs that made it into heavy rotation more than once? Second, Jay-Z is the CEO of a fairly prestegious record company (Def Jam). Third, Jay's (reported) $300 Million bank account compared to 'Killa' Cam's pink Range that he COULDN'T EVEN SELL ON EBAY!!

Recently, Jay responded to all Cam's hub-bub by basically calling it 'trash'. But it still leaves the question, does Jigga retaliate? Althought it's probably a safe bet that Jay doesn't do anything obvious to fuel the rivalry, I'd be willing to bet he drops a verse (or two) just to put Cam in is place. It should be fun to see how this one plays out.

Kobe's Great Game

Kobe Bryant had the game of his life last night by dropping 81 points on the Toronto Raptors. My response: Congratulations Kobe.

I'll be honest, I'm no longer a big fan of Bryant. Don't get me wrong, he used to be my favorite player. But after the trial, the spat with Shaq, and his endless ballhogging, I just can't see how he adds value to the Lakers or the League.

My favorite Kobe moment happened earlier this year. The Lakers were playing the Jazz on December 1. My buddies and I had courtside seats. We were giving Kobe crap the whole game. Finally, my friend calls Kobe 'Pippi Longstocking' (because of the leggings) that Kobe was wearing underneath his shorts. Kobe laughs, comes over and says 'Nice one. I haven't heard that one all year'.

Another time during the game, Kobe had the ball on the block, and I yelled out 'Kobe, you can't make that like MJ could'. He proceeded to drain a fallaway jump shot. He then turned around and gave me the look of death. Good times.

I used to follow the Lakers quite often when I lived in SoCal, but ever since I moved back, I've found it harder to keep track of them (except when Kobe drops 81 points in a game). I'm not quite sure how well the Lakers will do this year. I think they'll get into the playoffs, but I doubt they get by the first round. Too much Kobe, no team chemistry, and no inside presence (no Phil, Chris Mihm is not an inside presence).

Osama, How We Missed Thee...

OBL, (or UBL as Fox News likes his intitials) poked out from his cave to say hello to the civilized world today and drop this little surprise:

We don't mind offering you a long-term truce on fair conditions that we adhere to, both sides can enjoy security and stability under this truce so we can build Iraq and Afghanistan, which have been destroyed in this war. There is no shame in this solution.

Of course, he was offering this truce to the United States. The Bush department quickly responded to the offer by flat-out denying OBL and telling him 'We'll see you in hell!'. And why shouldn't they. This adminstration has no reason to stop fighting wars. We have plenty of troops to fight. Plenty of bombs to drop. Plenty of more casualties to accrue. And plenty of perfectly innocent people to kill.

Bin Laden's recent truce offering was also occumpanied by additional threats:

The delay in similar operations happening in America has not been because of failure to break through your security measures. The operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute they are through.

So I suppose that it would be irrational for the United States to PULL COMPLETELY OUT OF IRAQ and let the inevitable civil war there occur. What's interesting here is the fact that Bush has been silent about Osama Bin Laden. In fact, I can't even recall the last time he mentioned his name in an official news conference. Isn't he the reason we're in this mess in the first place?

A few questions that I would like to be answered by somebody with connections in the adminstration:

Why are we in Iraq?
Why haven't we captured Osama Bin Laden? (My smart-ass answer: Poor marketing of the bounty on his head).
Why was the aftermath of the Iraq war so poorly planned?
With civil war inevtiable in Iraq, why not just pull out now? We wouldn't be losing face, and if anybody made fun of us, we'd just go to war with them too.
Why is the Taliban making a comeback in Afghanistan?

Please, answer my questions.

Hillary Puts White House in the cross-hairs

Hillary Clinton dropped a bomb on the White House today when she said that Republican Leaders have run the House like a 'Plantation'. While this isn't the boldest thing ever to emerge out of the mouth of a Clinton, it definitely left a nasty bite.

While this is clearly not the best way to start off a presidential bid, at least she doesn't have to worry about offending African Americans. In any case, she should be able to have no trouble in finding the money to run for president; early reports have stated that she's already raised as much as $50 Million. It should be interesting to see whether or not she actually goes through a decision to enter the race. Personally, I doubt she wins, but it will be fun to go through the experience of a woman running for president with a legitimate shot of winning.

Iran will soon get what's coming to them

It looks more and more like Iran is going to get what's coming to them, as I predicted in an earlier post. This week, talks between the E3 and Iran stalled this week leaving the European Union and the United States little choice except to refer them to UN Security Council.

For its part, Iran has vowed to block weapons inspectors from entering it's 'peaceful' nuclear facilities if it is referred to the Security Council. Anticipate those 'peaceful' nuclear facilities not lasting around for the rest of the year. Either the United States or Israel will launch a joint but covert mission to make sure that the facilites aren't around for long.

This will have devastating affects for the goals of the United States to bring peace to the Middle East. If this happens, not only will Iran continue supplying terrorists to Iraq, it will begin a more overt attempt at its aim of trying to wipe away Israel. Should be interesting to see how things turn out.

...And now, in Entertainment News...

This won't be a long post, but it will be long enough to hold over all of my anxious readers. Tonight there was a news story that came across the wires that had to do with the fact that Brad didn't call Jen about Angelina's pregnancy. My the thoughts on this are: stfw (so the fuck what). Is it really a big deal? Do web publishers such as Yahoo, MSNBC, CNN, et al feel it newsworthy to take up valuable real estate on the web to report on something most of us could give two monkey shits about?

I like gossip as much as the next guy (or, woman for that matter). But I find that story totally useless and a waste of space. They could have used that space to publish something interesting-like a link to my blog!

Coming this weekend (hopefully), pictures of my party at the Real World suite!

A Few Random Predictions for 2006

First, before I get into my list, I want to apologize to my many readers in advance: I know that these types of columns, articles, and blogs are waaay over done and have become somewhat cliche. However, I think they provide valuable insight onto what people are thinking. Onto my predictions for 2006:

• Iran's Nuclear Facilities are removed. This prediction is pretty popular, especially among people who write in the mainstream press. Many people point to the fact that the United States has been nosing around it's allies, getting their ideas on what they would think if the the US tactically removed Iran's ability to enrich Uranium. Regardless, Iran's nuclear's facilities will be no more in late 2006, with the United States or Israel taking care of them.
• The US begins a systematic withdrawal from Iraq. Again, another mainstream idea, but likely to happen. With president Bush facing the lowest approval ratings of his or any presidency, he's going to have to start listening to what the American people want, and hope all this impeachment talk goes away.
• Hillary Clinton announces her run for the presidency. There is still lots of debate on whether or not she will run for president, but with our country in the current situation that it's in, many democratic supporters may tell her that she's her party's only hope. The only reason I would even think about voting for her is just the thought of Bill sitting around the White House all day with nothing to do.
• Bush announces a strategic plan for a Plastenian State. I'm just making sure you're still reading.
• Abortion part deux takes place in front of the Supreme Court. All of us know that this is bound to happen. It's a matter of time. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that this time it will work out for pro-choice.
• Osama Bin Laden will be captured or killed. Count on it. This clown's been on the loose for five years. Everybody gets caught sometime. You don't mess with the only Superpower in the World and get away with it
• The stock market has another so-so year. The market's been very shaky for the last five years. Nothing really will do anything (positively or negatively) to break it out of it's funk.
• The Red Sox have a horrible year. I'm a pretty optimistic guy when it comes to most things in life, but with all the front office bumblings that have gone on this off-season within this organization, it's bound to end, and end badly. Although, with Manny just announcing that he wants to stay in Boston, I could be wrong on this one.
• Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey will get divorced. All that's missing on this one is the signatures on the bottom line. The fun thing about watching this will be to see who gets what.

Hope you enjoy some of my thoughts. I'd be interested in reading any of your relevant comments.

A Few NFL Thoughts

It was a really wacky year in the NFL this year. It's amazing how interesting Parity can make the league; instead of blowouts week after week by select teams, many games actually came down to the final minutes. Congrats to to the Colts for having such a great year (going a franchise and league best 14-2).

I'm looking forward to the 49ers developing and becoming a little stronger next year. They finished 4-12 this year, winning their final two games of the season and showing improvement over last year's dismal 2-14 team.

I'm also looking forward to the Chargers next year. I thought that they would have done really well in this years playoffs, had they been in them. Unfortunately, owing to a couple critical losses to Dallas, Miami and Kansas City, the Chargers will be watching the playoffs from the sidelines.

Good luck to the fired coaches this year. Jim Haslett, Mike Tice, Mike Martz and Mike Sherman were all fired by their respective teams as of this posting. I'm sure they will all end up somewhere next year. That, or they can always start a band called the Three Mike's and a Jim.

Finally, a personal note to Brett Farve: please retire. You were one of my favorite Quarterbacks growing up. Don't soil my memory of your legacy.

I Have Another Blog

As you may have noticed, the purpose of this blog is to give my opinion on current events. With this in mind, I have s started a separate blog to do product reviews and such. It is located here. I will return to my normal blogglings, tomorrow.