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.
Comments
Kirby - August 12, 2001 10:41 AM
This has nothing to do with Google -- I just feel compelled to share this clip...
Rob - August 12, 2001 1:52 PM
That's a fine clip!<P><P>I almost posted about it, but I procrastinated. It's quite frightening when Steve shouts "WHO SAID SIDDOWN?".
Kirby - August 12, 2001 1:56 PM
And "GIVE IT UP FOR ME!!!"
Steven Garrity - August 12, 2001 4:00 PM
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 <b>we do not, nor have we or will we ever, chant or cheer in any organized or premeditated manner</b>.
Kirby - August 12, 2001 4:46 PM
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!"
Steven Garrity - August 12, 2001 5:01 PM
What is the context of the video? I presume it's an internal Microsoft rally of some kind?
Alan - August 12, 2001 5:58 PM
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.
Dave Moses - August 12, 2001 8:56 PM
who said white men can't dance?
Kirby - August 12, 2001 10:01 PM
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.
Jevon MacDonald - August 12, 2001 10:29 PM
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...*
<blockquote class="smalltext">* Assumption</blockquote>
Rob - August 12, 2001 10:37 PM
I vividly remember returning from Québec once last summer to find the "Party Button" ritual involving Scooter's <i>I'm Raving!</i> and some rotating pseudo-police lights.
Steven Garrity - August 12, 2001 10:48 PM
jevon, note how I said we never "chant or cheer in any <i>organized or premeditated</i> 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>I'm Raving!</i>.
Jevon MacDonald - August 12, 2001 11:19 PM
Alright Steve,... Agreed.
Now, Was he wearing Loafers?
I think he had these in a black.
The Insider - August 13, 2001 11:06 AM
I have personally witnessed group cheering to <i>Europe's</i> "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.
D James - August 13, 2001 11:52 AM
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.
<br>
<b>#1</b>
<br>
<b>DAN:</b> Who got the hooch?
<br>
<b>Workers:</b> Baaaaabbbyyyyyy!!!!
<br>
<b>DAN:</b> Who got the only sweetest thing in the world?
<br>
<b>Workers:</b> Baaaaabbbyyyyyy!!!!
<br>
<b>DAN:</b> Who got the love, who got the fresh-e-freshy?
<br>
<b>Workers:</b> Baaaaabbbyyyy!!!
<br>
<b>DAN:</b> Who got the hooch?
<br>
<b>ALL:</b> WE DO!!!!
<br>
<b>#2</b>
<br>
<b>DAN:</b> SANDIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!!!!!!!!!
<br>
<b>ALL:</b> YEAH!!!! (general cheering sounds).
Kirby - August 13, 2001 12:04 PM
"Drug induced" antics, Dan? Is Ballmer a coke-head? He certainly fits the bill...
Steven Garrity - August 13, 2001 12:57 PM
Come on Kirby, Balmer is clearly on 'roids.
Dennis - August 14, 2001 1:23 PM
Slightly balding... hyperactive... weak ankles... definetly roids.. definetly roids.. yeah..
Steven Garrity - August 22, 2001 8:41 PM
As with any self-respecting god, Google now answers prayers. Google is a personal god.
Link via MetaFilter
Nick Burka - August 23, 2001 10:05 AM
<img src="http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist/august_graph2.gif" align="right" alt="Kid Rock's on the decline, Fantasy Football is on the rise. The world is becoming a better place.">
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!
Nick Burka - September 21, 2001 2:32 PM
<img src="http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist/pentagon_graph_sm.gif" align="right" hspace="10" border="0">For anyone who hasn't seen this yet, it's quite interesting. Google has made a special page of Zeitgeist for September 11 2001, tracking searches related to the days' events.
Steven Garrity - October 2, 2001 11:54 PM
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.
michael - May 31, 2002 2:10 PM
Google may be cool and all, but I prefer God Himself.
God - June 6, 2002 2:07 PM
<i>Herself</i>.
Him - June 6, 2002 2:24 PM
Godself?
God - June 6, 2002 4:27 PM
Better than <i>itself</i>.
Deal.
Andorra Lane - October 28, 2004 5:45 AM
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.