30 January 2000 - merger mania

Why is America Online CompuServe Netscape-Time Warner Turner Seven Arts eating every company in sight? Big Picture magazine called analyst Godwit Toucan to find out. “It’s a long-term growth strategy,” Toucan laid on us. “The plan is, when all’s ready they’ll suddenly accelerate in size past the federal government before hatching the serious abuses. Then there’s no recourse and they’ll rule the world.”

Food for thought, eh? Next we contacted Microsoft to see if it’s a monopoly. “No way,” said the company. “And besides, everyone’s doing it.”