Googlezon

Yes, I've seen the video on this concept of Google morphing to become a kind of ubiquitous "force" in our existence. I don't really buy into that. The same kind of talk was used about GM, IBM, ATT, Microsoft ... etc. Ultimately it's all fantasy that a private company can have that much influence. Governments have far more money and clout.

The thing about Google is they have no particular monopoly, other than brand awareness and habit. And habits can be broken. Particularly if people are motivated to break the habit. Witness Microsoft, which everyone touted as having an unbreakable monopoly on the desktop. It's strong, to be sure, but not exclusive. I believe most of your operating system instances are Linux now, right? And witness IE ... some claimed that would force an unbreakable choke-hold on the Internet. Then along comes Firefox.

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I question whether "evil" can be defined in this day and age. Seriously. The concept of "evil" suggests an objective measure of "bad." How is that possible when objectivity is itself in question? "All is relative."

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From the "pet peeve" department: why is it most text editors will, when the user double-clicks on a word, select the word and the blank space that follows? What's the purpose of that?

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Also from the pet-peeve department: companies that send out a bill and a return envelope and the return envelope is too small for the portion of the bill that's returned with the check? That happened yesterday with me. Not small companies, either: Hydro One of Ontario. Go figure.

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Interest article from the web having to do with things that kill a sale:

Sales Killer #1: Lack of professional appearance. If you want people to listen to you and heed your advice regarding your product or service, you have to come across--both in appearance and demeanor--as a professional expert.

Sales Killer #2: Talking too much. When you're talking, you're telling. When you ask questions to get clients talking about their needs, you're selling; you're finding out what they want to own. Only then can you guide them to the right product or service.

Sales Killer #3: Your vocabulary. Words create pictures in our minds.

Sales Killer #4: Not investing time in building rapport. Good rapport builds trust. No one will want to make a purchase from someone they don't like and trust.

Sales Killer #5: Lack of a qualification system. A certain percentage of the people you talk with won't be good candidates for your product or service. If they don't have the need or the money for your product or service, there's no sale.

Sales Killer #6: Not knowing when to stop presenting and close the sale. Too many salespeople think they have to tell potential clients everything they know about the product.

Sales Killer #7: Ego. Selling is a service business. You must set aside your wants and needs to serve the wants and needs of others.

Sales Killer #8: Not knowing how to close.

Sales Killer #9: Not paying attention to details. If you skim over details or shortcut your presentation because you've done it so many times that you're bored with it, you'll lose sales.

Sales Killer #10: Poor fulfillment. This ties into paying attention to details. If you or your company don't have the practices and policies in place to properly fulfill the expectations of your clients, you'll find yourself working harder and harder to get new business.

Now, think of our employer and ask yourself whether the majority of those "selling" our wares have a sense for this? I'd say no.

Note: and I'll be perfectly candid and say neither do I ... but that's why I'm not in sales.

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Is Hussein truly dead? Physically, yes.

Note: did you happen to see the cell-phone video captured in the execution chamber? The Iraqi government released professional footage of the placing of the noose, but not of the actual dropping. The cell-phone video showed the trap door open and Hussein drop ... but not the body snapping against the weight. It was unsettling in a weird sort of "I witnessed death" way. Equally unsettling was a short bit of video that showed his body hanging after the drop ... his head was perpendicular to his body. I guess that's the nature of hanging.

The exact nature of his "soul" at this point is open to some wild speculation.

But here's a question sure to generate some debate: let's say after we die we find out God forgave Hussein and Hitler and Stalin and others, and they too are in Heaven. Would you (or I) be resentful? If so, why?