One observes, with a mixture of mordant amusement and genuine horror, the spectacle of Google—that self-proclaimed cathedral of the digital age—genuflecting before a cut-rate Caligula's cartographic fantasies.
Gawd, don’t give him ideas. He’s not capable of any of his own that aren’t hate based so this might really appeal to Donald of Orange - so he can flex even more his realty show machismo.
I'm afraid we're farther down this trail that we imagine. After all, half the country now believes an ass is our president. And these beliefs are only going to get stronger with the owner of X, and co-regent, now having access to most Americans deepest secrets.
There are alternatives, some very good, and if enough people start using them, perhaps their precious business model will be sufficiently undermined to get their attention: Duck Duck Go, Kagi search (very impressive) Bluesky, Mastodon, a map alternative would be most welcome Ride GPS doesn’t quite do it. There are business opportunities here, especially outside the US. Sadly Canada’s Shopify has joined the sell outs.
"One is reminded of how the courtiers of Caligula were required to acknowledge his horse as a senator"
Ironically, Suetonius made this story up, sensible people in antiquity knew it was a made up story, and moderns are the more likely to get it wrong.
"a masterclass in institutional prostitution"
I worked for Google (don't worry, I don't like them either), and they have always done this for every country. Things are named largely according to the preferred nomenclature of the local country (don't worry, I think renaming the gulf is stupid as hell).
These posts are so helpful to my well being. It’s hard to put my moral outrage into words. Today’s issues won’t fit on a protest sign, they are too complex for that. Its editorials like yours (and there are few indeed — Double Down News comes to mind), that cut through the endless echo chamber to break down the problem. Well done, thanks.
Mike, your training in philosophy shows, making your commentary clear, always thoughtful, and well ordered. It’s always a pleasure to read. I keep wondering what the companies that hire immigrant workers to do the backbreaking work that we rely on think of Trump’s “roundup” and expulsion plans. He must be getting pushback. It would be interesting g to know their position on that. The SCOTUS has said more than once that corporations are persons. That seems to imply that they have moral & ethical obligations like we actual persons. Instead, their personhood allows them enormous freedom in some areas (determining policies) but not in the moral and ethical areas. Since I’m not trained in law, I don’t know what the legal reasoning is behind this idea. But it defies a commonly held idea of what personhood really is. Corporate persons accepting Trump’s edicts might be good for business but it’s not going to be good for actual persons. It seems folks at Google saw this renaming as an easy appeasement but what comes next?
So the fpotus can just name geographic spots at will? He could re-name Washington DC as "Trumpland", California as "Liberal Swamp", and Florida as "Paradise Trump"? What's to stop him? Stupid, cowardly Google. What's fpotus going to do to you if you don't label the Gulf fpotus's way? Kill your whole family? Oh wait, no, it's more like you'll make a few billion less without his favor. It's called losing your soul to greed.
People who thought government should be "run like a business" must like cowardly stands, bribery, extortion, and bending the knee to tyrants.
Mike, I can’t tell you how much your substack is saving my sanity right now. I profusely thank you for your content
✊
Great piece and (unfortunately) spot on! Thank you!
Brilliant. Eviscerating.
When is he going to want to change the names of cities and states with Spanish names eg, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Antonio,
Corpus Christi, California, Nevada, Montana etc. Surely Google will accommodate.
Gawd, don’t give him ideas. He’s not capable of any of his own that aren’t hate based so this might really appeal to Donald of Orange - so he can flex even more his realty show machismo.
I sent them feedback on the map. It is screaming into the void...but damn, let them hear the scream!
I encourage everyone to report errant information when found on Google Maps: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3094088?hl=en
I'm afraid we're farther down this trail that we imagine. After all, half the country now believes an ass is our president. And these beliefs are only going to get stronger with the owner of X, and co-regent, now having access to most Americans deepest secrets.
And in all likelihood, voting information. Between Musk & the SAVE act will we ever again be able to have a safe, free election?
Solid writing
There are alternatives, some very good, and if enough people start using them, perhaps their precious business model will be sufficiently undermined to get their attention: Duck Duck Go, Kagi search (very impressive) Bluesky, Mastodon, a map alternative would be most welcome Ride GPS doesn’t quite do it. There are business opportunities here, especially outside the US. Sadly Canada’s Shopify has joined the sell outs.
"One is reminded of how the courtiers of Caligula were required to acknowledge his horse as a senator"
Ironically, Suetonius made this story up, sensible people in antiquity knew it was a made up story, and moderns are the more likely to get it wrong.
"a masterclass in institutional prostitution"
I worked for Google (don't worry, I don't like them either), and they have always done this for every country. Things are named largely according to the preferred nomenclature of the local country (don't worry, I think renaming the gulf is stupid as hell).
You should be much more concerned about, say, Google ending its self imposed ban on AI weapons: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy081nqx2zjo
These posts are so helpful to my well being. It’s hard to put my moral outrage into words. Today’s issues won’t fit on a protest sign, they are too complex for that. Its editorials like yours (and there are few indeed — Double Down News comes to mind), that cut through the endless echo chamber to break down the problem. Well done, thanks.
Mike, your training in philosophy shows, making your commentary clear, always thoughtful, and well ordered. It’s always a pleasure to read. I keep wondering what the companies that hire immigrant workers to do the backbreaking work that we rely on think of Trump’s “roundup” and expulsion plans. He must be getting pushback. It would be interesting g to know their position on that. The SCOTUS has said more than once that corporations are persons. That seems to imply that they have moral & ethical obligations like we actual persons. Instead, their personhood allows them enormous freedom in some areas (determining policies) but not in the moral and ethical areas. Since I’m not trained in law, I don’t know what the legal reasoning is behind this idea. But it defies a commonly held idea of what personhood really is. Corporate persons accepting Trump’s edicts might be good for business but it’s not going to be good for actual persons. It seems folks at Google saw this renaming as an easy appeasement but what comes next?
So the fpotus can just name geographic spots at will? He could re-name Washington DC as "Trumpland", California as "Liberal Swamp", and Florida as "Paradise Trump"? What's to stop him? Stupid, cowardly Google. What's fpotus going to do to you if you don't label the Gulf fpotus's way? Kill your whole family? Oh wait, no, it's more like you'll make a few billion less without his favor. It's called losing your soul to greed.
People who thought government should be "run like a business" must like cowardly stands, bribery, extortion, and bending the knee to tyrants.