He called it, years ago
I have a fascination with Microsoft (well really with Bill G). And even though he's gone now I still read about them, especially when they're compared to the other camps. But this isn't about M$ –
In my 1B term at UW a professor of mine liked to mock Google stock like nobodies business. Part of me wanted to deny him, to hold out hope that somehow we CSers could overcome the 'laws' of past companies. But something specific he said stuck with me; "When an economy tanks, the first thing that's cut is the advertising budgets". And now, with America suffering from a few ridiculously bad terms of Government, a series of unfortunate natural disasters, and a seemingly insaciable lust for debt (both personal and as a nation), their economy is reeling. Lo and behold, Larrys words are ringing true.