DISQUS

Better thing to ponder is finding an open platform case study that is successful, sustainable and profitable (not just hyped up in ST value). I agree with Umair's assertion that Facebook is closed, but don't agree that Google is open as its profit driver is equally closed (= have you tried to build a partner list from your most valuable publishers from AdWords? most valuable advertisers from AdSense? You can't, that's Goog's job and it is opaque for a reason).

I've heard the phrase, "closed is for leaders, open is for everyone else" in reference to Apple's position in media. Also, M$ has made a lot of money by not letting other players compete at the OS level. Two pretty solid examples of a closed strategy that meets the successful, sustainable and profitable hurdles.

Put another way, if Facebook keeps pushing ground breaking functionality and innovation, then no one will ask whether it matters if they are open or closed. Slow down even a little bit and everyone starts asking.

Awesome - transparency, yes! Reconciling the interactions is a huge step.

Goog is an advertising based business and if you've followed consumer recessionary cycles, you know that a drop in ad spending is coming (which I'm sure you do), hence the expected drop in revenues and earnings is being played out by Google's admission to revenue slow down and Wall Street's move to other sectors. You want to be considering sectors that come out of the downturn first and invest in them while you wait for a bottom on Goog.

I'm continuing to be amazed that you like AAPL v. NOK, btw, given that same NA consumer headwind.

On that tone - Bush ran his original platform, and won, based on his track record for being a unifying presence and that he would carry that to Washington. Times dictated many diversions, but even Bush has the opportunity to lead his party and take action to work together and get key issues accomplished.

Obama would be smart to emulate this position as it has many merits. With luck, the future president takes the chance to not only present it as a theme to get elected, but to follow through on that promise.