“Earlier this week, fellow Fool Rick Munarriz wrote about Google CEO Eric Schmidt accepting a seat on Apple’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) board. Rick suggested that Schmidt’s move was about making life miserable for Microsoft. I’ve got a different idea,” Jack Uldrich writes for The Motley Fool.
“In the short term, I think it’s more about Apple landing a spot for its iTunes digital media service on Google’s toolbar, and Google finding new ways to leverage its advertising network. In the longer term, though the picture begins to get cloudy, I have a sneaking suspicion that video content will play an increasing role in the two companies’ future relationship,” Uldrich writes. “Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I see a link here, in the person of former Vice President Al Gore.”
“A board member at Apple and “special advisor” to Google, Gore recently turned Hollywood star with a leading role in the global-warming documentary An Inconvenient Truth. In addition to his political and environment interests, Gore is also the founder and owner of Current TV, a current-affairs TV channel that shows user-generated programs,” Uldrich writes. “I find Gore’s roles at Apple, Google, and Current TV particularly interesting.”
Uldrich writes, “It could be true that Google, Apple, and Current TV won’t do anything together to rival television — but color me skeptical. For one thing, Gore was also at the Edinburgh event, where he said that he hopes his new channel will reach 50 million people by 2010. A little help from Google and Apple could only help to meet such an ambitious goal… If Google does have plans to eventually rival TV, I’d simply encourage the company to be more candid about them. But then again, showing its hand so early might be just the sort of strategy that Al Gore would advise Google against.”
Full article here.
You know, because “Current TV” is soooo very successful and Al Gore’s strategic advice is soooo tremendously valuable – almost as much as Naomi Wolf’s.
The usual late-August Apple news lull seems to have caused a particularly virulent strain of daftness this year.
We think Apple put Google’s CEO on the board because Steve thought it made the boardroom table visually balanced from his perspective: four per side. Having four guys sitting on one side and just three on the other was driving him absolutely crazy! It’s really that simple.
Plus, as anybody knows, 8 is better than 7: the 8 spokes of the Dharmachakra, the 8 dynamics of life, tarot card No. 8 means “strength,” turn an 8 sideways and you have ∞, Carl Yastrzemski’s retired number, 8 maids a-milking, etc.
Related articles:
Google CEO on Apple’s board opens up many possibilities, including outdueling Microsoft – August 31, 2006
Re: Google CEO elected to Apple Computer’s Board of Directors – August 30, 2006
Dvorak: Does Apple’s board addtion of Google’s Schmidt portend Apple-Sun merger? – August 30, 2006
Apple and Google cozy up to make Microsoft jealous – August 30, 2006
Google CEO to help shape Apple’s future – August 30, 2006
Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt joins Apple’s Board of Directors – August 29, 2006
Dems want all the poor to get pregant often, become addicted to food stamps and public housing and then vote the Dems back in.
I look forward to when you publish your study demonstrating the validity of these hypotheses, Kristen. Feel free to email a PDF of it directly to me. No PowerPoint presentations, please.
Ray Lane wrote: “Could somebody offer a solution to the terrorist problem?”
Yep, that’s easy.
Step 1) Invade Afghanistan and root out the Taliban with the support of nearly the entire world
Step 2) Complete the job there, make sure we do it right with patience
Step 3) Use the unprecedented world support to establish unprecedented intelligence communication
Step 4) Use our assets (say half of what we spent in Iraq) to secure our borders, etc.
Step 5) Focus on reforming our communication between the FBI & CIA
That’s it! Pretty simple right? It’s amazing these buffoons in charge f#cked it all up. They no nothing of how to wage a *real* war.
MW: defense! No shit.
Al jr. rode into politics on his daddy´s wealth, name and political clout.
And you wonder why people compare Gore to Bush? Do you know anything about the Bushes and GW’s past? Cuz it’s kinda relevant.
This gets tiring… bringinp up Hitler to disparage Chávez, that was stretching things abit wouldn’t you say? check this http://www.tarpley.net/bush2.htm a site describing how the Bush Crime Family started its fortunes.. making money from the Third Reich. And those senators you listed are moderates, they are not challenging the status quo in any significant way.. besides John Kerry is on of those Skull and Bonesman freaks, like his cousins the Bushes. You could’ve at least listed a real Liberal.. i.e., Russ Feingold, or the hated and assassinated by the Bush Clan, Paul Wellstone. Did you know that Harry Reid is pro-life, and very pro death penalty, his liberalism gives me the warm fuzzies.
It is clear that the right wingers on this site attack people with childish comments, not ideas/facts with constructive criticism, very telling.
What as Al the Gore done for Apple????
Not one person has an answer.
Oh, gee, I don’t know. Could it be because no one here sits on Apple’s BoD? I also strongly suspect that BoD members are bound to confidentiality regarding their activities. And no one here know Al intimately enough to get beyond the first two points.
I can speculate, though: He has sat in on board meetings, and voted on matters regarding the company’s direction. Is that good enough for you? If you like the direction Apple has taken since Jobs’ return, then you should appreciate the fact that the board, which Al is a part, has done a fine job.
In reality, isn’t Gore’s responsibility – as a non-exec independent director – to maintain an oversight on behalf of the shareholders, which is the equivalent of the guy who used to whisper “Remember, thou art mortal” in the ear of victorious generals returning to Rome.
On that basis, he – along with the other independents – may be doing something right: Apple’s share price was a stock-adjusted $8 when he joined the board, it’s now $67 – and that’s despite the fact that the company is in the midst of several class action lawsuits based on alleged malfeasance that occurred before Gore’s appointment and SPJ appears to have a) mellowed enough to allow others to share the limelight and b) appears to have lost his previously legendary capacity to self-destruct through his well-known control freakery and explosive temper.
Nobody’s saying that Gore has built Apple’s current success; however, he and the other independents have a role to play in reining in the executive board’s ‘visionary” (i.e. risky) tendencies.
Also, criticising Gore for being a second-generation “coat tails” politician and not extending the same logic to the Bush family (now on the third generation – Prescott Bush/GHW Bush/GW Bush – JE Bush) seems a little inconsistent. (Can I call someone inconsistent, without being accused of indulging in ad hominem attacks? I don’t want to offend any thin-skinned Republicans.).
“Since you answered my call for civility with nam,e calling, I have to ask…
Is this what you wanted? “
What names did I call anyone?
“Partisanship is just an excuse to delare war on half of your own country. “
Not true, in war people kill each other….has anyone here died since reading these posts?
“I hope ya’ll are ahving fun ( I can tell you are) but this is not the sound of a healthy democracy.”
Sure it is. If this wasn’t a healthy democracy we wouldn’t be allowed to argue our points. Saddam Hussein got 98% of the vote in his last ‘election’, were they a healthy democracy?
However, the murderers and racists are the people that decide to fly planes into buildings, strap bombs to children, and declare that the zionists and infidels must be destroyed for no other reason than that they exist.
This is an oversimplification – as bad as “they hate us for our freedom.”
So, it’s an ‘oversimplification” to call terrorists that flew planes into our buildings murderers, but calling our president a murderer is fine…oh, OK
“Look: I know this is hard, but yes. There is nothing easy about the Israel situation. It’s a legacy clusterfuck from the colonial days and it’s not going to get better with vendetta. Diplomacy is hard work. Harder than war. It takes longer. You get screwed over repeatedly. Occasionally innocents get killed. But going apeshit doesn’t help anyone, and, in fact, makes things much worse.”
Unfortunately, I disagree. Diplomacy does not work when the goal of the other side is to see you dead. Diplomacy did not work with Hitler, defeating him did. Diplomacy did not make America free from Britain, fighting them did. Diplomacy did not stop the Hamas from attacking Israel. Arafat demanded land for peace, Israel gave them land, yet the attacks continued. This is because you cannot reason with somebody who’s only goal is to kill you. Peace comes after military victory, it’s sad, but it’s true.
As Golda Meir once said, there won’t be peace until the terrorists love their children more than they love killing the Jew.
I don’t really give a crap about Israel/Palastine/Lebanon, etc. They have their problems, and need to sort them out, and it’s not really something I think US taxpayers should be involved in.
The main thing that is important to me, as a democrat, is that we wage this “war on terrorism” as smartly and successfully as we can. And it really upsets me how unbelievably retarded it has been handled thus far. These guys couldn’t fight their way out of a cardboard box. It’s so sad. We’ve played right into the hands of our enemies with our decision to invade Iraq. It’s pathetic, and will not end well.
And those senators you listed are moderates, they are not challenging the status quo in any significant way.
so you honestly think John Kerry and Ted Kennedy aren’t Liberals?
Besides John Kerry is on of those Skull and Bonesman freaks, like his cousins the Bushes.
What does that have to do with whether he’s a liberal?
You could’ve at least listed a real Liberal.. i.e., Russ Feingold,
Ok, I’ll list him, and Diane Feinstein, and Dennis Kucinich, and others. Unfortunately, most people wouldn’t know who they are. Not everyone is into politics.
or the hated and assassinated by the Bush Clan, Paul Wellstone.
Uh, right….and did you know that Kennedy was actually killed by Beldar Conehead, and that Elvis is actually alive and hiding in Brazil.
Did you know that Harry Reid is pro-life, and very pro death penalty, his liberalism gives me the warm fuzzies.
He is also one of the most partisan liberals in congress. He brags about “killing the patriot act”.
effward: “And you wonder why people compare Gore to Bush? Do you know anything about the Bushes and GW’s past? Cuz it’s kinda relevant.”
Why? What does Gore on the Apple board of directors have to do with George Bush? Is Bush on the Apple board of directors, too? And its okay that Al rode the coattails of his Daddy, but its not okay for Bush?
Hell, all the Kennedy´s rode on the coat tails of their rich, corrupt Daddy. But what does that have to do with Al Gore and Apple? Gore is a loser. (If the Dems would have picked a better candidate Bush would not have won.)
And I am a Democrat. I think of 10-plus Democrats better qualified than Gore to run for President.
Gore is a carnival act.
Effwerd,
You are so off your rocker it’s scary. You think that fanatical muslims can be negotiated with??????? Are you freaking kidding???? Please do me a favor and go try and negotiate with them. You’ll be headless in a nanosecond you moron. Terrorists only understand force. We need to take out Iran next. It has to be done. You’ll find out the hard way if it doesn’t happen you jack ass!
Gspank,
You think Israel/Palastine/Lebanon, etc are not connected to everything that’s going on? You are a complete simpleton. Figure it out liberal neophites, it’s the middle east muslims against the rest of the world. Not necessarily the general population but far too many of them in every middle east country actually enjoy the terrorists hitting the west and support them. Fanatical muslims and schools need to be abolished yesterday. We are at a life and death war with this part of the world. Who in the west besides a muslim wants to live under their lovely set of rules. No women’s rights, beatings, beheadings, torture, no freedom of anything. You libs are SICKENING!!!!!!!
Anyone, regardless of political affliation, who likes what the Bush regime is doing is ripe for fascism, you are being played, and are getting the government you deserve. Stolen elections, political assassinations, needless wars, and deep corruption will become even more commonplace. The US is sadly full of brain/washed/dead zombies, and the world is lauging at you. FEAR is being used to keep you inline and stupid. We need the government to save us from the ‘baddies’, it’s too bad you don’t realize that the ‘baddies’ are the government. Wake up peeps, or to quote GWB..”That Goddam piece of paper”, a.k.a. the US Constitution will merely be a museum piece.
Ah Jeff, there you go putting words into my mouth. But that’s usually what happens here.
What I found absolutely hilarious is that you call me a simpleton, and in the next breath say “it’s the middle east muslims against the rest of the world”
Haheheahahehehah. Good one, Jeff. You can’t really overly simplify it any more than that. What do you know about the average Muslim in the Middle East, Jeff? Do you even know ONE personally? I doubt it. But you are probably used to casting armchair judgements based on your daily intake of Fox News. It feels good to pass judgement on others, doesn’t it?
So, I make you sick, huh? Wow, you are thin skinned aren’t you. I wouldn’t recommend going into a war zone there, Jeff. My friend who is fighting in Iraq as we speak has told me things that are truly sickening. You wouldn’t last a second over there.
It’s pretty funny the way many people think here. They say “Fanatical Muslims” can’t be negotiated with, and then include most mainstream Muslims in the “Fanatical Muslim” grouping. It must make these people feel good somehow, to try and cover up there own agenda’s with all this bullshit. I would guess most of these people are religious Christians. So many Christians in this country want to kill Muslims. It’s a classic tale that’s been going on for centuries. None of these Christians want to admit it, of course, but it’s true. And of course it’s so easy to cast a vote for the death of innocents based on faith when your doing it from your living room couch.
Remember, folks: Arguing on the Internet is like playing in the Special Olympics.
Even if you win, you’re still a retard.
yo enlish3d,
You are asking exactly what Al has done on Apple’s board of directors?
First of all… if you can even name another person on the board, do you ask of that person what they have done for Apple? Or do you just shut the fuck up and trust Apple to deal with what the board does or does not do for the company.
Jesus fucking h christ on a popcicle stick. Why are people so pissed that *gasp* a Democrat is on the board at Apple, and want his contributions publicized and his presence justified, but they don’t ask word one about anybody else? Just goes to show that those who ask are merely partisan bigots.
Gstank,
I have many friends and relatives fighting in Iraq you jack ass. Yeah war is a nightmare but it’s one that has to be fought. They are extremely annoyed at aholes like you and davida that undermine their missions and only look for the negative. There are so many more positive things happening that the liberal media only reports and jack asses like you believe hook, line, and sinker. davida you are such a disgusting human being words can’t describe it.
No women’s rights Rather like the erosion of Roe vs. Wade that’s happening on a state-by-state basis, and which the Religious Right will try and get federally mandated if they continue to be electorally successful.
beatings, beheadings Which is different to state-sanctioned execution (or, as sane people call it, revenge) in what way precisely. 362 people have been “judicially executed” in the USA since GWB came to power as President and well over 110 were executed during his terms as Governor of Texas.
By the way, when you drop a bomb on someone, it’s just the same as beheading them: they still die painfully. As tens of thousands of Iraqis could tell you. If they were still breathing. Our “justice” is just as brutal as theirs – it’s just we use technology to emotionally remove ourselves from the process.
torture Two words: Abu Ghraib; anybody who thinks the practises there weren’t sanctioned and commissioned by the Executive branch is an idiot. And any moral superiority that the US could claim has been catastrophically eroded.
no freedom of anything Yep, cause warrantless wiretaps is a great example of having freedom. Or having your medical records scrutinised by the security agencies. We have the freedom to go to work and the obligation to pay taxes. Other than that, our “freedoms” are pretty much being eroded day by day in the name of state security.
bodidly:
I never thought that asking questions was a sign of bigotry, that searching for the truth was an act of intolerance, or that objective investigation was a symptom of prejudice. It may be that some people, fearful or embarrassed by the facts, are reluctant to have them revealed which naturally leads to speculation, rumor mongering, and criticism.
Al Gore could end this public discourse, if he wanted to. I have not heard Al Gore publicly state that he did not receive financial gain from the stock options fiasco, did not know about the stock options irregularities before they were made public, was not aware of the harsh labor conditions in China, and has worked tirelessly to change the practices of Apple that make them a pariah in the eyes of Greenpeace. It seems obvious that Apple’s recent embarrassments taint Al Gore’s public image as an environmentally sensitive politician and zealous advocate for fairness, kindness, and respect for the common citizen. Certainly, if Al Gore is not guilty of the afore mentioned sins, it does beg the question, “Why is Al Gore so reluctant to defend his honor, his reputation, and his carefully crafted image?”
Left-leaning maroons tend to see right-wing conspiracies and subterfuge everywhere, and demand full and complete investigation whenever guilt or misconduct is suspected of your political opponents. However, when one of your own is suspected of illegal, immoral, or unethical behavior the left solidly defends their “golden boy”. As is obvious from numerous posts here at MDN, the level of discomfort expressed by the left is real. As usual, the response of the left is not to resolve the issue by presenting exculpatory evidence, but rather to defame and smear the questioner and revisit the sins of their opponent (which I suppose is a unique way of saying, “See, we are less corrupt, less villainous, and less culpable than other people). This self-serving hypocrisy is what is destroying the republic, especially since the left claims that they hold undying fidelity to truthfulness, openness, and egalitarianism.
“Yeah war is a nightmare but it’s one that has to be fought.” The Iraq War? Are you sure it was necessary in the first place? I recall that it was launched because of Iraq’s “weapons of mass destruction” – weapons that did not exist. The raison d’être for the war was falacious. At the center of the administration’s case for war was a classified National Intelligence Estimate that found evidence of an Iraqi weapons of mass destruction program. Paul Pillar, one of the report’s principal authors, now admits that the NIE was written in a highly politicized environment in which the decision to go to war had ALREADY been made.
From the Japan Times:
“…(The Iraq war may) likely multiply terrorists by spawning a new generation of battle-hardened jihadists. The occupation of Iraq played into the hands of US enemies ideologically, tactically and strategically. It incited a deep hatred of US foreign policy around the world in general and among Muslims in particular.
“Al-Qaida and its fundamentalist fellow-travelers were on the run after 9/11. Iraq fragmented U.S. military and political efforts, ensnared it in a military and diplomatic quagmire, regained sympathy to al-Qaida’s cause and fresh recruits to their ranks, reinvigorated their sense of mission clarity, and turned a strategic setback into a fresh opportunity. There was no al-Qaida in Iraq before the arrival of Western troops. It became a terrorist swamp because of the war…”
Many of the posts here are simply strawman arguments and ad hominem attacks.
Anyone care to compare and contrast Al Gore and Dick Cheney?
Ch.Blackthorne:
Thank you for proving my point that the left, when it cannot claim innocence, purity, and irreproachability, starts the moral superiority game by suggesting that they have committed fewer and less egregious sins as their opponent. I suppose that we should all now rejoice that Al Gore is less corrupt, less villainous, and less hypocritical than other people, according to the definition of the left. Well, maybe Al Gore is actually more hypocritical than other people, my bad.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20332352-601,00.html
The more questions, the more data, the more thoughtful analysis the less global warming threatens the world. Remember folks; science marches on while propaganda lies mired in the stench of lies. Maybe Al Gore will star in a sequel, “The Real, Unexaggerated, and Unembellished Truth: The Confessions of Propagandist.”