Two Cheers For Google

[poliphilo]

Hey I'm 55.

I was going to write that I've now outlived Shakespeare, but I find I was wrong in thinking he died at 54. In fact he died at 52- so I've now outlived him by three years. I tried Googling "people who died at 54" in search of other celebs I could crow over, but I didn't get any usable results. Did I want to know about "Famous people who died in air crashes"?

Actually, no.

Google hasn't had a good day. Earlier I wanted it to tell me about Ausburg- the town in Bavaria (I'm thinking Purchas might drop by sometime) and it was very parsimonious. I was offered information on American citizens called Ausburg and some American towns called Ausburg and the diary of an American soldier who was once stationed in Ausburg. ("Beaucoup women hereabout" he tells us- what a lovely, perceptive man) but substantial inside dope on one of the loveliest cities in Southern Germany- No.

Gosh, I may be forced to consult those awkward, cumbersome, out-of-date things called "books".

But I do now know the Roman name. Augusta Vindelicum. It's better than nothing.

But we mustn't knock Google. They're standing up to Bush. They're not going to let him know I've been wanting to find out about Ausburg or people who kicked the bucket at 54.

My heroes! (Google, that is- not the middle-aged deaders.)

Comments

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

P.S. Just in fairness to the Administration, it should be noted that they are *not* asking for personal information in the Google subpoena. There's a useful look at the issue, without a lot of bias one way or the other and drawing no conclusion at the moment, at

http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2006_01_15-2006_01_21.shtml#1137705478

I find it an interesting issue. If we stipulate that barring minors from pornography is a good thing, and if for the moment we ignore the vexing fact that to do so we must define both "minor" and "pornography" to the satisfaction of all or at least many, then what might be the most effective way of keeping pornography out of the hands of minors without violating others' First Amendment rights to produce and consume the stuff?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Hmm. It gets quite technical, doesn't it?

I guess my position is that we don't want government, any government- left or right- knowing too much about us.

Because no government can be trusted not to abuse its powers.