Is Google Scary? Not to Silicon Valley, Even at a Party for a Book About How Scary It Could Be!

Kara Swisher — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:21:47 +0000

While at a book party for author Ken Auletta in San Francisco last night, BoomTown took the opportunity to ask those gathered whether they were scared or not of Google and its growing power.

The Auletta book covers a lot about the search giant, but also drills in on how traditional media and advertising, as well as the government, have all become increasingly wary of Google’s hegemony over key businesses on the Web.

But as it turned out, the Silicon Valley types I queried had nothing but attaboys for Google (GOOG). Oddly enough, many mentioned how they love the food served up at the Googleplex.

Here’s the video of the interviews, with scary up-close shots, with investor–including in Google–Ron Conway, almost-not CBS (CBS) Web dude/almost investment dude Quincy Smith, online classified czar Craig Newmark, Slide CEO Max Levchin and Google PR honcho David “I love my Soylent Green” Krane (see pertinent movie video clip below):

[ See post to watch video ]

Please see this disclosure related to me and Google.

Liveblogging From Yahoo Annual Meeting: Empty Chairs and No Power

Kara Swisher — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:10:33 +0000

Eight minutes to go and BoomTown has a copious choice of seating here at the San Jose Fairmont Imperial Ballroom, as you can see from this picture.

But there was no electricity for the computers of the press!

The purple T-shirt squad from Yahoo (YHOO) had lovingly set up power strips for the reporters gathered in the cheap seats in the back. But the power was off. Then it came back on, went out and came back again. For now.

Is Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang power-playing with the press as he did shareholder activist Carl Icahn?

As in taking it away?

Well played, Jerry, well played!

BoomTown » power

Is Google Scary? Not to Silicon Valley, Even at a Party for a Book About How Scary It Could Be!

Liveblogging From Yahoo Annual Meeting: Empty Chairs and No Power