All posts by Steve

Will the suits destroy it?

Business

It seems that Google is facing an unavoidable decision this week regarding an IPO. Either they will stay private and be faced with a much larger headache than they have been used to, having to file public records as if a traded company, or will go public and actually be beholden to shareholders looking for quarterly investment returns. With an exodus of wealthy employees ó a lot of core intellectual capital ó and perhaps the loss of further benefits such as the four days of work and one of pet project pursuit, I’m afraid the environment that has been part of the creation of their world-class technology will come to an end. They don’t conform, after all, and Wall Street-types are not known for tolerating unorthodox approaches to business management.

And if management changes, whaddaya bet that the home page becomes as littered as all the others?

I apologize for being the pessimist today.

Science Fix

Uncategorized

If you need a quick read about where we stand on some of the major scientific issues of our time, The New York Times has recently put out the 25th Anniversiary Edition of Science Times in which they “pose 25 of the most provocative questions facing science.” Some of them I do not think should be on the list, but nevertheless, there are others that mosty definitely should, with decent, succinct responses.

The site requires you to create an account with a username and password to gain access to the otherwise free content. I’ve had mine for years without any more trouble, though. Click on the big question mark if you only want the questions.

Happy Meanie

Uncategorized

A try at a first post, for me. I have now entered the blogosphere.

Fast Company‘s cover article for December is a good overview of what Wal-Mart is doing to our economy. It is more even-handed than many others very critical of WM, so perhaps more useful for discussion with frequent shoppers whom we all know.

“The Wal-Mart You Don’t Know”

Then there’s the PBS StoreWars report, which is more polarizing. And for a real exposure of the oxymoron “Wal-Mart ethics,” try here.