Citigroup

When I started Diversity 2 (needs authorization), a million dollar dream portfolio on Google Finance back in April 06, 2008, I had no idea that it would be a witness of the 2008-09 financial crisis. 

When I bought 160 shares of Citigroup Inc. at USD 15.22, I noted "Citigroup still has a lot of potential. I must buy now because I buy to hold, not to speculate." Silly me. This was just over three months after I bought 2076 shares of the same at USD 24.08. Since then, it has gone to an all-time low of ninety seven cents which makes the current 4.68 (as I write this) a bit easier to swallow. 

Performance-wise, the portfolio which cost $979,434.26 is now worth $904,580.10 in market value. That is an overall return of -11.01%. The stock market is climbing up, for now.  

(written around 10 AM Central on August 26, 2009)

To boldly take a stance and still not hurt one's bottom lines (not very much at least)

(Unfinished copy, heavy editing may continue)

Official Google Blog: A new approach to China: "We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all."

One question that probably does not need to be asked here is whether Google is being responsible towards its shareholders by potentially shutting itself out of the Chinese markets. Analysts seem to agree, according  to Miguel Helft of the New York Times. Google has come under a lot of fire for being no different than Microsoft or Yahoo!

Google might have a better leverage than most competitors in this situation. The most prominent hardware Google sells to the consumer space is from htc based in Taiwan (see Nexus One for details). The best case scenario here is that Google and the Chinese government are able to come to an agreement that allows benefits beyond Google.

While WSJ's fears (I quote "Technically, most of Google's partnerships and other investments could continue, but by snubbing Chinese authorities so publicly, the company risks government retaliation against itself or its partners.") seem valid, retaliation puts the Chinese government in the spot light, and this is not a very good way to be in the spotlight. I strongly suspect that there will be some agreement that will be a least damaging option damaging to both the Chinese government and to Google. Then again, this suspicion is not based on any knowledge on the ground but on pure, unadulterated speculation.

Any international competitor need not rejoice at a potential Google exit from China. Google's bold moves make it precarious for any international company to directly benefit from a possible Google shut-down in China. Anyone taking Google's number two spot in China is bound to come under heavy pressure to follow Google's lead, something they may not be able to do because of existing relationships. Talk about being caught in between a rock and a hard place!

A realy dumb disclosure: I just need to remind readers that Google owns Blogger and blogspot that I use to write this blog. This service is free of cost from Google. I do not work for Google or receive any money in exchange for writing for this blog. Thank you!

Even the best of us can improve

... or so it seems the lesson from the latest improvements to Google Web Search. Here I have @hmason a computer science professor who recently gave an ignite presentation. Check out some screenshots:

All your domains are belong to us: a short offhand comment on wwwbing.com

No children, that was not a typographical error on my title. It does read wwwbing.com, which according to Tech Crunch, is a troll website. If you ask me, that should not be a problem for Microsoft. Why? Please read this article on slate.com (disclaimer: slate.com is a Microsoft-owned magazine).

Do I need to explain any further? Let me tell you something. Most of us are lazy on the Internet. Why would you type in www.bing.com when you could get away with typing bing.com? That's four letters fewer that you have to type every single time. I know it is not television and it is a lean forward instead of a lean backward idea but still, if people can get away with spending less energy, they might as well.

October 17, 2009.

Yes, that's today's date where I am. If it is after 2005 and you have not configured your website so that something.com works in lieu of www.something.com, it is your fault. Not mine, not a squatter's, not your neighbor's. However, even that comes behind the bigger picture: search engines.

Now, I understand your concern. Why, you would say, would Microsoft want people to Google them instead of going directly to their own website? For one thing, they already advertise Bing on Google (so well, in fact that one wonders what their bids for their AdWords campaigns look like. I have read (though not verified) that the average cost is around 80 cents per click (Google does not charge money for clicks it considers suspicious. Lets leave the AdWords/AdSense scaremongering for another day). One can simply type in bing on their Awesome Bar and get to the Microsoft search engine.

So let us sum up:

1. bing.com works just as fine. People, stop typing in that dagnabbin* www already.
   
2. Search it. If it is worth its money, it will be on the first page. No, people will not mind if they see you using Cuil, although it is kind of strange if you ask me. 
3. Get a better browser! A modern browser will allow you to search directly from the location bar or from a search bar close to the location bar. Microsoft's Internet Explorer (7 and above)**, Mozilla Firefox (and its derivatives), Google Chrome, Apple's Safari***, K-Meleon, and Opera have this in common.
   

* Thanks to Taylor Weaver (585699309 on fb) for the awesome new word. 
** If you still use IE6 or below, please upgrade your browser experience with getfirefox.com I understand it is not possible for everyone. If you cannot, just be very careful of any website (including this one) and remember, it is not paranoia if the threat is real. 
*** Saying Chrome originates from safari is like saying men originate from Macaques but that's a story for another day. Google Chrome uses the same webkit base but it is not a Safari derivative. 

Introducing Bing: The better way to Google

This video is funny. A big "Thank you!" to College Humor. A tip of the hat to TechCrunch!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.