It’s an example of why monopolies are harmful. They create distorted economies that don’t serve consumers. Like ecosystems overcome by a monoculture, monopolies are inherently less resilient, less functional and prone to sudden disruption.
If there were multiple sources of traffic, the pressure to optimize to one source would be lower, and the disruption caused by algorithm changes would be muted. Which would mean more interesting content less driven by a narrow set of metrics
That’s the rationale Google uses. “We’re the best, that’s why users pick us.” They built a moat of investment in search and the browser that other companies can’t compete with. But as a consumer, I am not willing to accept that argument. Ma Bell claimed the same thing. We’re a lot better off economically in a world where Ma Bell was broken up, and Microsoft was forced to stop their anticompetitive activities. Google will be better off as separate companies, worth more than the sum of its parts
I recently read The Parable of the Sower and it really affected me, both because I felt empathy for the characters and because I saw some uncomfortable parallels in the recent history of our world. I also was disturbed by The Sparrow. Though frankly I wouldn’t recommend it for a lot of reasons. Battle Royale is intensely violent, in a really personal way. For graphic novels, From Hell is a really rough read honestly, but also really interesting
For me the first thing that comes to mind is Tales from Earthsea. I don’t think it’s excellent or anything and has plenty of problems but people act like it killed their dog. While it has its problems that have been covered extensively, I think it has a beautiful atmosphere and art....
Two men have been charged with cutting down the popular 150-year-old Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian’s Wall last year in northern England, prosecutors said Tuesday....
CAR T cell (en.wikipedia.org)
Google Kneecaps Loads Of Very Big Websites After SEO Change (aftermath.site)
Inverted detective story ("howcatchem") (en.wikipedia.org)
Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction (en.wikipedia.org)
Which are the most fucked up books you've read?
John Bentinck, 5th Duke of Portland (en.wikipedia.org)
Sting (percussion, aka 'ba-dum-tiss') (en.wikipedia.org)
What animated film or tv show is this? (i.imgur.com)
For me the first thing that comes to mind is Tales from Earthsea. I don’t think it’s excellent or anything and has plenty of problems but people act like it killed their dog. While it has its problems that have been covered extensively, I think it has a beautiful atmosphere and art....
2 men are charged with cutting down famous 150-year-old tree near Hadrian's Wall in England (apnews.com)
Two men have been charged with cutting down the popular 150-year-old Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian’s Wall last year in northern England, prosecutors said Tuesday....
Hyperparasite (en.wikipedia.org)
Ecosystem engineer (en.wikipedia.org)
Tea leaf paradox (en.wikipedia.org)
Kremlin Disputes Report Putin Didn’t Order Navalny’s Death (www.thedailybeast.com)
Tier list (en.wikipedia.org)
If it works, kill it. (lemmy.world)
Rule of Google: if it works, kill it....
Thermokarst (en.wikipedia.org)
Mosaic (genetics) (en.wikipedia.org)
L'esprit de l'escalier (staircase wit) (en.wikipedia.org)
Sieve of Eratosthenes (en.wikipedia.org)