With the release of Google's IMing program yesterday, I think it very important that we ponder which portions of our lives we would willingly use Google products for.

I, for example, am quite willing to hand over every element of my life to Google.

Electricity, water, operating system, television, transportation, etc. Anything, frankly. I'd even use Google Food. (Invite only, and it's actually a beta.) But sadly, that doesn't seem possible. I don't think the government would even allow it, for one thing. Monopoly, 'threat to capitalism' and all that. And not everyone would want it anyway. I'm sighing right now, honest.

So, what elements of life seem like probable outlets for Google's thirst for expansion?

Rumors of a Google web browser, based on the popular and highly overrated Mozilla Firefox have been whizzing around for a long time now (I'm an Opera user, which should come as a surprise). This probably won't materialize for at least a year, if at all.

Google is apparently aiming to become another Yahoo! or MSN, both of which have moved far beyond the simple search engine. So on top of webmail and IMing they'll probably copy a few more popular Yahoo! and MSN services, such as:

- Shopping
- Website hosting and domain names
- Music downloads (either iTunes-style or a subscription service)
- Timekeeping

And maybe an operating system, ultimately. But for some of us, it will not be enough until we eat, drink, and breathe Google products from morning to night. Literally.

And that is our thought for today.

;-D