Google's 18th birthday doodle. Courtesy: Google
Google's 18th birthday doodle. Courtesy: Google
Google's 18th birthday doodle. Courtesy: Google
Google's 18th birthday doodle. Courtesy: Google

Google’s dilemma


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Google celebrated its 18th birthday yesterday with an animated festive doodle on its home page, showing the Google “G” inflating a balloon and twisting it into the full name of the company. Yet, no one seems to know when it was born, not even Google.

The technology giant filed for incorporation on September 4, 1998, but for reasons unknown, since 2006 it has been celebrating its birthday on September 27. A year before, it marked the occasion on September 26. And in 2004, Google’s birthday doodle was on September 7. The year before that, the birthday doodle went online on September 8. Surprisingly, there is nothing in the company’s history to indicate the significance of any of these dates.

It’s hard to imagine that the search engine that we rely on to tell us anything we want to know can’t even give a straight answer to this simple question. This is perhaps a message that we shouldn’t trust all the information we find online.

THE BIO

Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.

Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.

Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.

Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.

 

 

What are NFTs?

Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.

You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”

However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.

This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”

This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

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Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates