Things You Won't Be Seeing on Google Maps Anytime Soon

If you like Google Maps as much as me, you'll get a kick out of this page about things that they censor or blur out:

http://www.itsecurity.com/features/51-things-not-on-google-maps-071508/

Google Does It Again...

If you are a fan of Gmail, you might already know this, but in case you haven't, Google has added the ability to send a SMS text to a phone from Gmail. Read the whole story here.

It's Not That I'm Anti-Google...

I don't know why I've been on a Google kick lately; I just enjoy pointing out the flaws of a major corporation, I guess. The latest? Somewhat old news, but perhaps it's news to you? Apparently, Google has had data (they don't say how much, but I'm guessing it's a quite a bit) stolen from one of the outsourced companies that keeps Google records.

The most important piece of information stolen was social security numbers of many of their employees (again they don't say how much, but I'm guessing it's a lot). None of this is funny or even unusual. But here's the kicker...the company that stored this highly private and sensitive information was not using encryption software to protect their information.

How does one of the largest and wealthiest companies of modern day America store sensitive information about their employees with a company not using any kind of encryption to protect that information?

I just hope the NSA isn't using the same company....

Is Google Beyond the Law?

Google is all over the news lately; I pass on reading about most of it (just seems like all the news is about invasion of privacy, and it's getting old). I couldn't help but laugh, however, when I saw this picture of a cop pulling over one of the street view cars!

And speaking of Google Street View...check out this site, which has their favorite pictures of Google Street View scenes; I wonder if they pulled over to help the guy in the burning car? And if you want to see some pictures of Google's Street Map car fleet, then head over to Gizmodo, who has the shots.

I have also learned that Google has no problem taking your picture off Street Maps, provided you follow several somewhat complicated steps. Go here to see what they are...

Oh, No! Did I Really Watch the Baby Laughing 50 Times

I didn't really care about the Viacom / Google lawsuit...until now! Now it appears my privacy is at stake. I don't get it. I didn't do anything wrong...I don't even watch anything on the Viacom network. CBS just plain sucks, and I'm surprised they even have shows people would upload and watch on YouTube, and MTV is just a bunch of Reality TV shows. So why should my privacy be violated?

I do the right thing...I simply use YouTube for watching some guys 15 seconds of fame, and look where it's gotten me! Now Viacoms basically going to get all this free market research stuff based on the viewer habits of millions of people who could care less about Viacom.

I'd like to say I'm boycotting Viacom, but how do you boycott something you don't watch?

You Complete Me, Google

Is anyone else getting a little afraid of Google lately? Google satellite was a nice idea, then they introduced Street View, and thoughts of big brother is watching quickly came to mind--it was both cool and creepy all at once.

Everyday it seems something is added under the Google umbrella, and I can't help but wonder when I too will be cast under the umbrella...nothing more than a subsidiary of the Google Corporation (note to reader: this blog is owned by Google, so I kind of already am).

Well to creep me out just a little more, Google has generously offered to help me manage my medical records! How nice of them, right? Um...well sort of I guess. Google is full of great ideas, but maybe it's time for them just to simmer down before they control the world.

Maybe their next great idea can be Google Puppies; everyone likes puppies. There's nothing creepy about that...I need something un-creepy this time around, Google!

Is Big Brother (Google) Watching You?

Do you ever get the feeling that one day Google will control everything? This spoof video probably won't make you feel better about things...

Enjoy!

Weekend Funnies

Google's Giving Tree

Coming soon to a Google beta near you: "Charity - Beta." Google has announced plans to give some of there millions of dollars away...1% to be exact. Want to get your hands on some of that?

Go to http://www.google.org/ to find out more on the program, or read the article about their plans here:
http://www.forbes.com/home/technology/2008/01/17/google-philanthropy-disease-tech-cz_qh_0117googorg.html