Google is a fantastic system. Its principles are elegant in their simplicity and the technology actually works (few companies can claim both of these attributes simultaneously).
A co-worker of mine has a theory that Google is the new god. He points out that while god tends to be vague and require patience of his followers, Google gives straight answers. Google is truly without gender, unlike god, who claims to be, but is clearly a man. In a loose humanist manner, Google, as the window to the collective knowledge of humanity (if you could bestow such a title on the web), is a reflection of god in ourselves.
Up to this point in history, god has had a monopoly on judgment. Now, though, instead of thinking twice about your questionable actions in light of potential eternal damnation, you must think twice about committing your words to the permanent Google record. Google records all. Google remembers all (even after it’s gone from the original site).
For example, if I make a comment on this site about my workplace and a client searches for information on my company, they will likely find my comments. Everywhere I post a comment on the web and use my real name (which I most often do) I leave a mark that can easily be found by a future employer.
Google is god and big brother and I love it.
This has nothing to do with Google — I just feel compelled to share this clip…
That’s a fine clip!
I almost posted about it, but I procrastinated. It’s quite frightening when Steve shouts “WHO SAID SIDDOWN?”.
And “GIVE IT UP FOR ME!!!”
Kirby, I forgive the off-topic nature of your post due to the sheer absurdity of the video. I found it frightening and disconcerting.
After watching Startup.com last night, where they did a company cheer/chant, I am starting to wonder if this corporate zealousness is more widespread than I would have thought.
We love our jobs at silverorange to a degree that some would consider beyond balanced and healthy. Howver, while madness and tomfoolery often reign at our office we do not, nor have we or will we ever, chant or cheer in any organized or premeditated manner.
Sorry to continue the off-topic thread, but there’s a hilarious segment of the video I just noticed: it appears that Balmer turns an ankle or something. As he hoots past the podium, he comes up game. You can even hear him yelp, “Agh!”
What is the context of the video? I presume it’s an internal Microsoft rally of some kind?
I thought I had witnessed the silverorange chant and cheer over my Half Life skills…oh, but that was sheer joy of the instant without the slightest premediation.
who said white men can’t dance?
I’m not sure of the origin of the video, Steven, but it seems a very safe bet that it’s an internal rally. I found the clip at Kuro5hin, which is certainly a site worth checking out.
I have watched that video and I am scared. Scarred. Freaked.
Steve,. I believe I can testify that SO people have chanted in a premediated manner before. Even if just for Martha’s chilli.
Or for someones pants to come off…*
I vividly remember returning from Québec once last summer to find the “Party Button” ritual involving Scooter’s I’m Raving! and some rotating pseudo-police lights.
jevon, note how I said we never “chant or cheer in any organized or premeditated manner”
a spontaneous cheer brought on by the joy one feels upon smelling chilli (esp /w breadbowl), or the mob mentality of (assumed) publicly encouraged pant removal is something alltogether different from a corporate chant.
and yes, rob is right, there is nothing a funny as Dan J. swinging his imaginary raver glowsticks to Scooter’s I’m Raving!.
Alright Steve,… Agreed.
Now, Was he wearing Loafers?
I think he had these in a black.
I have personally witnessed group cheering to Europe’s “The Final Countdown” involving Steven Garrity and co-workers at the silverorange offices. Nobody rolled an ankle but there was some degree of corporate exuberance.
I felt obliged to make a post. After seeing Startup.com and the Steve Balmer video the staff of silverorange have asked me “why don’t you have that kind of energy, that enthusiasm?” (using much more colorful language). I don’t think I could pull off the football coach, drug induced, crazy antics of Steve Balmer but I am sure I could make a nice chant to motivate the productivity units. I’m down to two finalists.
#1
DAN: Who got the hooch?
Workers: Baaaaabbbyyyyyy!!!!
DAN: Who got the only sweetest thing in the world?
Workers: Baaaaabbbyyyyyy!!!!
DAN: Who got the love, who got the fresh-e-freshy?
Workers: Baaaaabbbyyyy!!!
DAN: Who got the hooch?
ALL: WE DO!!!!
#2
DAN: SANDIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!!!!!!!!!
ALL: YEAH!!!! (general cheering sounds).
“Drug induced” antics, Dan? Is Ballmer a coke-head? He certainly fits the bill…
Come on Kirby, Balmer is clearly on ‘roids.
Slightly balding… hyperactive… weak ankles… definetly roids.. definetly roids.. yeah..
As with any self-respecting god, Google now answers prayers. Google is a personal god.
Link via MetaFilter
For anyone who missed the link for Google Zeitgeist in the original post should check it out now. Google monitors the human race, our needs, our wants, our dreams, and our preference between Final Fantasy and Planet of the Apes. The gaining/declining queries thing is amazing!
The great changeless Google has changed! For the better, of course.
Now a new simple and elegant tab system allows easy searching of their four main components, Web, Images, Google Groups, and their implemention of the Open Direcory Project.
Now it will be even easier for people searching for naked pictures of Sum 41 to accidentally find aov.
Google may be cool and all, but I prefer God Himself.
Herself.
Godself?
Better than itself.
Deal.
After a long search, I finally found your site. My granny used to say, that you must never give up to reach a certain aim.
So keep on going like I did it recently.