Don’t celebrities have anything better to do than tweet all day? Apparently not: on April 17th, Ashton Kutcher and Oprah make Twitter history; Google takes on the recession/Korean Government; and Verizon, in an interesting display of legal strategy, sues someone who doesn’t exist.
BIZ
Google is not recession proof. Chron
But, Google’s CEO says Android (the company’s mobile phone OS and software) will have a strong year. Tech Meme
That is, if the Korean Government doesn’t take them out. Silicon Valley Watcher
Southwest lost $91 million in the first quarter. Analysts are surprised, Southwest chief exec says he is not. Hopefully this doesn’t mean they’re going to stop giving away drink tickets. Chron
General Growth Properties Inc., which owns a number of malls in the Bay Area including SF’s Stonestown Galleria, filed for Bankruptcy today. CBS5
Ebay has its eye on South Korea. CBS5
Yay, Unemployment is down! No, JK – SF county unemployment hit 9.0 percent in March. Sigh. Socket Site
TECH
Stop what you’re doing right now and take note, for one day your children will ask you where you were on this momentous occasion: Ashton Kutcher is officially the first man with a million Twitter followers. CNET
But, OMG, he may have cheated! It’s impossible to unfollow him on twitter. Scandalous! Valleywag
No, wait, someone figured out a way. We’re okay, people. CNET
Ashton, you better watch out: Oprah joined Twitter this morning. She’s gained 500 new followers in the twenty seconds since I started writing this blurb. So far she has tweeted about reubens and rabies vaccines. Valleywag
Honda’s new robotic device helps the motor functions of the elderly as well as those with spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s, and cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, it’s not applicable for those times when you’re in bed and really hungry but too lazy/hungover to walk into the kitchen. CBS5
Stay with me: this iphone app helps you make your idea for an iphone app into an actual iphone app. If MEDL mobile likes your idea, they’ll also promote and market your application, for a fee. What about an iphone app that helps you brainstorm ideas for an iphone app? Techmeme
One way to get a job in this economy: hack into twitter and broadcast your name across the site. Techmeme
Verizon won’t let small details deter them from persecuting those responsible for this months’ South Bay phone service sabotage. Small details like, uh, the identities of the people who did it. John Doe, prepare to pay up. CBS5
REAL ESTATE
Over a hundred Bay Area foreclosed homes are being mass auctioned off in the next few weeks. Chron
After much controversy (basically, ideals vs. $$$), Panda Express will not be opening up shop on UC Berkeley campus. At least, not this month. Daily Californian
What did we miss? Let us know.
