The World Around You

Alabama Governor Bob Riley has been selected as one of Governing Magazine’s Public Officials of the Year (and they gave him the cover). They have done just a cursory, but extremely complementary profile.

Had Bob Riley’s attempt to reform Alabama’s tax structure been passed by the voters in September, he would have earned a place for himself in the state’s history books and might have become one of the most prominent governors in the country. As it is, his initiative lost, so Riley stands out only for having offered the most conspicuous display of political courage any state has seen this year.

Amen. Hopefully, there will still be much more to tell when this administration is over.

If you haven’t yet read The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, I highly recommend you do so. It’s an interesting cross between the historical non-fiction and mystery genres. ABC will run a special breaking down the claims made in the book and Elizabeth Vargas tells BBC News that, “You can’t talk about this subject without intriguing people or offending people.”

NBC’s Today show also addressed this topic earlier this week. There is a lot of good theological history contained in Brown’s tome and I hope it does lead to a broader debate in this country on the subject of religion and why we believe what we do and worship in the way we do.

I have every confidence that this idea is being pushed much more seriously by Microsoft than by Google,

Google, the highflying Silicon Valley Web search company, recently began holding meetings with bankers in preparation for its highly anticipated initial public offering as it was still engaged in meetings of another kind: exploring a partnership or even a merger with Microsoft.

According to company executives and others briefed on the discussions, Microsoft - desperate to capture a slice of the popular and ad-generating search business - approached Google within the last two months to discuss options, including the possibility of a takeover.

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While the overture appears to have gained little traction - Google indicated that it preferred the initial offering route, the executives said - it demonstrates the enormous importance that Google represents as both a competitive threat to Microsoft and as Silicon Valley’s latest hope for a new financial boom.

Though seemingly spurned, Microsoft may still be interested in pursuing Google at a later date, according to an executive briefed on the discussions.

Both Google and Microsoft executives refused to comment.

The founders of Google are savy enough to know what selling or “partnering” with Microsoft would do. They will have a very successful IPO and could become a very powerful force in their own right, that’s why Microsoft is after them.

Stand tall Google, don’t fall to the pressure of Microsoft!