LNN

Google’s search business isn't protected by economies of scale, network effects, or any typical monopolistic barrier. Yet, it accounts for nearly 90% of searches. Their moat is their product (search algo). Can't think of another monopoly that exists on a superior product alone.

People misconstrue Google’s business as “selling digital ads“. This undervalues Google’s golden goose. All internet traffic can be categorized into 3 major highways: #1 People communicating #2 People looking for information #3 People wanting to buy something Google owns #3.

As a result, they charge advertisers a hefty toll for access. They share #3 with Amazon for product-related searches, but for everything else you could possibly spend money on, its Google.

Need: A hotel?

An accountant?

A nearby restaurant?

Software for your business?

Google.

Unlike Facebook (often compared), Google doesn't need personal data to be an effective advertising platform. All they need is your search query. Both Google and advertisers know exactly which keywords display monetary intent and can target ads accordingly.

Most people don't know this, but those messy Pages (on the floor in this photo) gave Larry the idea for Page Rank.

...“When the tsunami of corporate America threatened innovation, the two found solace at home. ‘We couldn’t risk losing the culture we built in Brian’s dad’s man cave, but this office comes with free Cat5 and a water cooler so we just brought it here,’ Sergei said.”

I think they should have the right to do this... 

And they should (and hopefully will) give the money back to the innocent guys.

I hope to see a follow up news item about how this all worked out someday with the bad guys losing and the innocent being made whole again.

Quote

Unfortunately, there are people who tamper with money and its magnificent coordination process.

Thieves try to obtain money by taking it by force. Fraudsters obtain it by promising something in exchange and not delivering on the promise. There are lawmakers who think they can better coordinate human action by decreeing restrictions on economic interactions.

And then there are the central banks who monopolize and control money itself so that its magical benefits are distorted, destroyed, or even reversed. We, and our money, have been under their control since 1971, with startling consequences. For most people reading this, that means you’ve lived in darkness your whole life.

Bitcoin is a moral, economic, & technical imperative.

One of the best explanations of Bitcoin under 10 minutes 

Update:

At $74,582, Bitcoin becomes worth more than all of the silver in the world.

At $595,784, Bitcoin becomes worth more than all of the gold in the world.

Update:

Bitcoin is now worth more than the four largest banks in the United States, combined.

Satoshi Nakamoto talking about the energy consumption of Bitcoin and concluded: "𝘕𝘰𝘵 having Bitcoin would be the net waste."

Hal Finney was the first person, besides Satoshi Nakamoto, to run Bitcoin and support the network.

Canada’s first Bitcoin ETF, Purpose, now hodls over $1 billion of coin, in a record month of growth. The U.S. market is 27 times larger. . .

The smallest amount of bitcoin is now worth the same amount as one Lebanese pound, based on the "official" government exchange rate.

Does he have a mailing list or something that corporations can't just ban or block?