The sheriff is in town

I think I understand why Google spent a boatload on YouTube - they are afraid. They realize that there is a huge demographic who will interact (I can't say read) with a video for longer and with greater retention than with the written word. Google wants to capture that market while eliminating a potential competitor. They don't want to have happen to them what happened to Microsoft and IBM. IBM gave the software business to Microsoft because they thought hardware was most important. Microsoft gave the search engine business away because they thought it was a marginal business. Google did two things - captured the business and made it legit by spending so much money. Even those who know nothing about video blogging are interested. Money on the street is to business and finance like blood in the water is to sharks.

For better or worse, this is the beginning of the end for the frontier element of video blogging on YouTube. The sheriff has moved in with the railroad - business needs to be protected, products sold, and the Malkin issue will happen again. This medium is now in the real world of mainstream business and the money is too large to allow too much edge. It time to pasteurize..