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WhatsApp Sold

As with Flappy Bird, when it was announced that Facebook is going to acquire WhatsApp for USD $16B, plus a further $3B retention bonuses, I’m sure there will be a flurry of new messaging copycat apps. With names like ThatsApp, ThisApp, WhatsThat etc.

All jokes aside, before I could unroll my jaw back off the floor at the pricetag, I came across this article from Forbes with the click-baitish headline http://dnasab.net/2021/10/28/dnasab-video-sculpture>mediated-reef-ecosystem____obscene-plasticene-daydream-lcd-coral-polyp-4-2021/ Why Selling WhatsApp to Facebook would be the biggest mistake of Jan Koum’s and Brian Acton’s Lives.

The author took the examples of the sale of YouTube and Instagram as examples of how founders had sold their businesses, only for it to grow exponentially in value some time later. In the case of YouTube, they sold it off to Google in 2006 for 1.6b, certainly not a small sum, and while YouTube is definitely a big part of Google right now and worth a whole lot more, it doesn’t mean Chad and Steve would have been able to attain the same level of success if they’d stayed the course without the massive resources of Google to back them up.

Another argument he put forth was that entrepreneurs, or anyone really, will have maybe 1 good idea their entire life. WhatsApp seems to be it for Jan and Brian, so they should hold on to it and play the long game. I say $16B is a pretty darn good price for the one good idea in your life. I would go further to say that NOT selling WhatsApp at $16b would be the biggest mistake of their lives.

In this day and age, barriers to entry for any business is getting lower. Anyone can build almost anything and bring it to market at a (more or less) global level, especially when it comes to tech. So yes, Eric Jackson, before you write such headlines, I’d like to see you reject $16 billion dollars.

Congratulations on the brilliant exit. With this acquisition, WhatsApp is now even more valuable than established brands like Campbell Soup, Harley Davidson and American Airlines!

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Party like a time traveler

Jan

If you are a time traveler and loves to meet ~~celebrities~~ celebrity, here’s a special invite for you: Go back in time to 2009.

Yes, Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist and Author Stephen Hawking would love to host you.

You read that right. He hosted a party for time travelers in 2009, and only sent out the invites in 2011. He figured that wouldn’t have been an issue for time travelers. So far, no one’s turned up. Yet.

Below’s the invite and a video for the party. Go make his day.

Ooooh wait, here’s a joke!

Laguna de Duero What did one time traveler say to the other about missing Stephen Hawking’s party?

“Don’t worry mate, we’ll be back in time.”

Searching the internet for evidence of time travelers

Speaking of time travel, Robert Nemiroff and Teresa Wilson from Michigan Technological University recently went on a search of the internet for possible traces of time traveling, left either by accident or on purpose.

Interesting read, although nothing was found.

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Oxford University women’s rugby team strips for charity

Dec

…and immediately makes me a rugby fan.

They are doing this in support of mental health awareness. And maybe just generally showing off their well-toned bodies.

The calendar is selling for £10 if you’d like to order it.

But not one to take it lying down, the men’s team have now also pitched in, and are also doing a sexy naked calendar in support of Breast Cancer awareness.

Any excuse to strip off in public eh?

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A desperate cry for help

Nov

In the single most obvious cry for help the Prime Minister has given, since taking a 36% paycut in 2012 in order to try and experience the “poor but contented” lifestyle many tv serials have portrayed, he has almost all but thrown in the kitchen sink in an attempt to voice out his general unhappiness.

By slowly but surely increasing his online activities via his facebook page, and then slyly slipping in a statement during a forum on friday evening, he has finally revealed the vulnerable, unhappy side of him.

In his most honest and candid statement yet, he said simply, but with gravitas “Satisfied people don’t have time to go onto the internet. Unhappy people often go there.”

Top things to do when in the internet: Sulk, Be unhappy, Feel unsatisfied. – Tripadvisor

Dear PM, as your loyal and unwavering citizens, we are all deeply concerned about your wellbeing. We are only human, as can be shown with the recent unhappiness portrayed by Nicole Seah, also professed on the internet, thereby proving your theory right.

We implore you to seek treatment, or at least talk to someone. There is no shame in that. Please call 1800 – 221 – 4444. The Samaritans of Singapore is always open for you, or anyone seeking help.

look at the muscles on that unhappy face!

Another MP of concern is Mr. Baey Yam Keng. Although he hasn’t outrightly stated that unhappy people often go onto the internet, he is of the same party. And we know all about toeing party lines. So by the internet’s count, he has been unhappy at least 623 times on this thing called Instagram, which is conveniently located on the internet.

Governing Singapore is a tough, tough job. Please take it easy. Let us know if it’s too much for you. We’ll know what to do.

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Backstory of Doraemon

Nov

I have no doubt many of you would have seen an episode, or at least a snippet of the popular Japanese anime, Doraemon.

Typically, it involves Doraemon and his owner Nobita Nobi, getting into a spot of trouble with friends, bullies or going through a series of unfortunate circumstances, but almost always ends up resolving the issues while learning (implied or otherwise) about certain values like friendship, perseverance and honesty.

But how many of you really know the backstory behind Doraemon?

What exactly is he, and why is he here?

Well, it turns out that the story has a very interesting parallel with The Terminator. (Or should I say events behind The Terminator could be inspired by Doraemon, given the manga was first published in 1969!)

Doraemon is a robot cat manufactured in the year 2112, and came to be in the possession of a little boy named Sewashi Nobi. Sewashi sent Doraemon back in time to improve the life of his Great Grandfather, Nobita, so that in the future, his descendents may enjoy a better life.

In the original timeline, Nobita was frequently bullied, and led a sad, miserable life with poor grades. This resulted in a eventual burning down of the business Nobita had set up, thus throwing his descendents into a financial rut. Sewashi initially wanted to send a super robot to protect Nobita, but could only afford factory reject, Doraemon.

So despite the light hearted tone to the series, it actually underscores a very moving story of attempting to alter history to better one’s predicament.

Fun fact

Doraemon’s ears were eaten by robotic mice. Although he can still hear perfectly well, it has given him a series-long phobia of the creatures.

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It’s KitKat, not Key Lime Pie

Sep

The newest android operating system has been named, and it’s not Key Lime Pie as the rumours have been floated.

It’s… KitKat, keeping in tradition of naming their OS after desserts.

Kit Kat also has a joint promotion in the US where if you buy a pack, you could stand a chance to win a Nexus phone.

But apparently, no monetary exchange was involved.

Any guesses for ‘L’?

Image: Google via Mashable

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Paisley Abbey Alien Gargoyle

Aug

Paisley Abbey, a Scottish monastery, has an extremely rich history. Built in the 1300s, it is currently the burial place of all six High Stewards of Scotland. It is still used for worship services every Sunday.

Walking along the magnificent building, one can’t help but admire the craftsmanship. As you look up to the windows and scrutinize the individual gargoyles adorning the roof, you detect a flicker of recognition.

Wait, is that… can it be?

Ridley Scott’s Alien??? What the? You rub your eyes and take a closer look. You zoom in with your camera lens, and yes, it’s unmistakably the xenomorph!

How did that happen??

Relax, aliens aren’t real (at least not the xenomorph that we know and fear so dearly). Most of the original gargoyles had been severely worn off, and there was a huge reconstruction effort in the early 1990s to refurbish the gargoyles.

“I think it was the stonemason having a bit of fun” said Reverend Birss of the refurbishment works.

So that’s either the truth, or they know something we don’t.

Image credit: Daily Mail

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Soylent is not people, we hope

Aug

In the 1973 film ‘Soylent Green’, the year was 2022, and the world was suffering from overpopulation and a lack of resources, especially food. Most of the population was surviving on synthetic food produced by Soylent Corporation, whose latest product ‘Soylent Green’ purportedly contains high energy plankton, nutritious but in short supply.

In the end, it was revealed that Soylent Green was made from people, presumably the homeless, derelict, and on some occasions, enemies of the corporation.

Fastforward to today, reality

Software engineer Rob Rhinehart has created ‘Soylent‘, a low cost alternative to traditional food, and that’s intended to supply all the daily nutrients that an average human body needs. In fact, Rob says he has been subsisting on Soylent, as 90% of his meals, for a few months now, all the while tweaking the formula for both taste and optimum nutrients.

Rob claims that he has lost weight, while feeling more energized while on the diet.

A crowdfunding campaign has already garnered $1m worth of orders, so it seems like people are taking to it quite readily. In fact, the ease of preparation, and ability to keep for long kind of makes it a perfect concoction for doomsday stockpiles.

Rob’s also constantly finding new ways to try and bring the cost down, acknowledging that its not exactly cheap cheap now.

What do you think? Will Soylent be the answer to world hunger? Would you give it a go, and stockpile 3 – 6 months worth of Soylent, just in case?

Does it really not contain humans?

Follow Soylent on twitter for more updates.

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