April Fools!

It's that time of year again, folks!  The day when Google, once again, kicks ass.  Apparently they were busy in Japan coming up with stuff this year!

First, here's a quick roundup of various jokes Google has unleashed.  From The Next Web:
"Roundup: All of Google’s jokes for April Fools’ Day 2014"
http://thenextweb.com/google/2014/03/31/round-googles-jokes-april-fools-day-2014/


Google Magic Hand (from Japan):
http://www.google.co.jp/ime/m9/


Google Maps Pokémon Challenge (also from Japan):
http://googlejapan.blogspot.com/2014/04/blog-post.html


Gmail Shelfie (from the official Google blog):
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/introducing-gmail-shelfie.html
I love the "Kitty Purry" name in the photo!


Nest Total Temperature Control (with newly-acquired Nest, and Virgin Airlines):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zocNCBXHVQo


WazeDates (with newly-acquired Waze):
http://blog.waze.com/2014/03/waze-acquires-israeli-startup.html
Best quotes:
"I've always been a big fan of honking, but honking only takes you so far."
"Has it really come to this, do I really need Waze?"
"It's obvious the way you drive says a lot about your character."


Emoji translation in Chrome for Android and iOS (from Google Chrome):
http://chrome.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-faster-mobiler-web-with-emoji.html
I think you need the latest version of Chrome on your phone.


Auto Awesome Photobombs (don't forget the Hoff!):
"Introducing Auto Awesome Photobombs with David Hasselhoff"
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/introducing-auto-awesome-photobombs.html


Google Auto-Awesome Resumes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IeWkXmPqpA
I love the enhanced resumes in this one, around 1:25 and 1:46!


‘Top planets and moons’ in AdSense:
https://plus.google.com/116176459448466735273/posts/eEaA1a9pL36


Official cat keyboard:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+FrancoisBeaufort/posts/PRRQzmoG2wQ?cfem=1
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=135117
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/qwerty-cats/mecnbplejdlmfdgbdhgddhgnaojmbkne?hl=en-US


YouTube’s viral video trends for 2014 (from YouTube):
YouTube is 'planning' their viral video trends for 2014!
http://youtube-global.blogspot.ca/2014/04/announcing-viral-video-trends-for-2014.html
http://youtube-trends.blogspot.com/2014/04/analysis-shows-2014-could-be-huge-year.html

"YouTube Announces Upcoming Viral Video Trends #newtrends"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUbYohGMOg&feature=youtu.be
Clocking.  Finish Lining.  Butter Fails.  Baby Shaming.  Glub Glub Water Dance.  Elaborate Flash Mob Divorces.  Bun Nutting.  Kissing Dad. Gettysburg Addressing.  Cake Bumping.  Nap Cams.  Geology.  Wolf Mask T-Ball.  The Harlem Shake (again).  $1000 Gifting.

"See, the longer you stand there in place, the funnier it [clocking] is!"
"It's going to be even bigger than planking!"
"This dumb baby can't read.  Have to take care of it all the time."
"For the first time in YouTube history, we're getting viral videos from you, the user!"   :)

Details of some of the new trends:

"Clocking First Look #newtrends"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBeNcfwXja0
"And you just keep doing it.  For hours."
Human beings are ruled by clocks.  They tell us when to act.  If we, ourselves, become the clock, does that put us back in control over our own destiny?"

"Glub Glub First Look #newtrends"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C1ieLGok40

"Kissing Dad First Look #newtrends"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvt1ZNONemI


Chromecast for squirrels (from Chrome):
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+chrome/posts/MqE1jeJ8yUe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpT1787EjbE



Data-less Decision Making (from Google Analytics):
http://analytics.blogspot.com/2014/04/mastering-science-of-random-chance.html
https://analyticsacademy.withgoogle.com/course20140401
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuGhpz_6O1E
"We've determined that 50% of the time 99% of the decisions can be made with only 38% of the data!"


Coffee-to-the-home (from Google Fiber):
http://googlefiberblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/introducing-coffee-to-home.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2JBFlW--UU
Hey, we're bringing fiber to the home, why not coffee?
"Coffee and fiber just go together!"


Google Apps for Business Dogs (Google Enterprise):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97IS180hxR4#t=13


Google Play Signature Edition (Google Play):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrGQ2EyuQ1Q


AdBirds (Google Ads):
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GoogleAds/posts/DZDb2GamtS8


Blockly in Klingon (Google Research / Google Code):
http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2014/04/making-blockly-universally-accessible.html
https://code.google.com/p/blockly/wiki/Klingon



Interesting to see so many April Fools jokes.  It shows, among other things, just how big Google has gotten.  So many divisions.

What's your favorite?  Hard to choose.  I'll just narrow it down to ... Emoji translation, WazeDates, and YouTube Viral Video Trends!  I always wonder if Google will be able to make me laugh out loud, but they always come through.  I loved showing my daughters the Emoji translation.  Absolutely priceless.

Song of the Day: Haim - If I Could Change Your Mind

Beautiful group I just heard of.  Great new album called "Days Are Gone."

"HAIM - if i could change your mind"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75S3QyM5FuE


Listen to (most of) their new album here:
"HAIM - Days Are Gone"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4NrhoJ1Dvc&list=PL3tzMKTZezwlg_iMAkScWmm7vwwo-iS42

Beautiful the whole way through.  I found myself initially comparing them to other artists.  Almost a bit of a disco vibe in "Falling."  Other songs remind me of the 80's a bit.  And there were a few guitar notes that almost made me thought that I was listening to the Eagles back in the day.  Believe it or not, I got a bit of a Patty Smyth vibe in some of the vocals.  The Wikipedia entry mentions that they have been compared to Fleetwood Mac, and I guess I don't disagree, but that wasn't the first band that jumped to my mind.

Very hard to categorize--not that they need to be categorized.  But they certainly seem out of step with other contemporary music.  Again, NOT a bad thing, not at all.  Very refreshing, actually.  I'm having fun listening to them, sorting out all these memories that are being stirred up as a listen.  Very nice.

After listening to the whole album...

I think that "If I Could Change Your Mind" is the song that jumps out at me more than the others after a first pass.  "My Song 5" was also a lot of fun to listen to.

I'm not sure if I was just getting into their vibe as I listened longer, or maybe they carefully ordered their songs for best effect, but I got into the album more the longer it played.  "Let Me Go" was particularly good.  The more I listened to it, the less I thought of who they reminded me of.  Who the hell cares, anyway.  I was finally appreciating them for THEM.

Song of the Day: Tegan and Sara, featuring The Lonely Island - Everything is Awesome!

This song is really catchy.  Tegan and Sara like I've never heard them!

"Everything Is AWESOME!!! -- The LEGO® Movie -- Tegan and Sara feat. The Lonely Island"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTqXEQ2l-Y

Seriously deep lyrics in this song (!).

I feel more awesome than an awesome opossum
Dip my body in chocolate frostin'
Three years later, washed out the frostin'
Smellin' like a blossom, everything is awesome

Yes, I saw the Lego movie with my girls over the weekend.  GREAT movie!  So many details for the old folks among us.  For example, the 1980's astronaut character had scratched writing on his chest and a broken chin bar on his helmet ... exactly like what happened to every single astronaut figure we had while growing up--incredible attention to detail!

Did you see the trailer for the movie, by the way?  Here it is.  By the way, I'm the star of the movie.
http://appcloud.warnerbros.com/lego/sigfigtrailermaker/#view/1393791376_XNh4lHm9AL/532f299d0203b408151238

In the movie they did up my hair really nicely.  But normally my hair is shorter, as in this promo shot:

Lyrics from MetroLyrics:
http://www.metrolyrics.com/everything-is-awesome-lyrics-tegan-and-sara.html

Everything Is Awesome Lyrics
This is the first song in "The Lego Movie". It is created by Lord Business/ President Business and encourages a positive outlook on life.

Everything is awesome
Everything is cool when you're part of a team
Everything is awesome, when we're living our dream

Everything is better when we stick together
Side by side, you and I gonna win forever, let's party forever
We're the same, I'm like you, you're like me, we're all working in harmony

Everything is awesome
Everything is cool when you're part of a team
Everything is awesome, when we're living our dream

Wooo
3, 2, 1. go

Have you heard the news, everyone's talking
Life is good 'cause everything's awesome
Lost my job, it's a new opportunity
More free time for my awesome community

I feel more awesome than an awesome opossum
Dip my body in chocolate frostin'
Three years later, washed out the frostin'
Smellin' like a blossom, everything is awesome
Stepped in mud, got new brown shoes
It's awesome to win, and it's awesome to lose (it's awesome to lose)

Everything is better when we stick together
Side by side, you and I, gonna win forever, let's party forever
We're the same, I'm like you, you're like me, we're all working in harmony

Everything is awesome
Everything is cool when you're part of a team
Everything is awesome, when we're living our dream

Blue skies, bouncy springs
We just named two awesome things
A nobel prize, a piece of string
You know what's awesome, everything

Dogs and fleas, allergies, a book of Greek antiquities
Brand new pants, a very old vest
Awesome items are the best

Trees, frogs, clogs
They're awesome
Rocks, clocks, and socks
They're awesome
Figs, and jigs, and twigs
That's awesome
Everything you see, or think, or say
...Is awesome

Everything is awesome
Everything is cool when you're part of a team
Everything is awesome, when we're living our dream

The video you need to watch: Edward Snowden on TED

Watch the whole thing.  Think about it.

"Edward Snowden: Here's how we take back the Internet"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVwAodrjZMY

"There are absolutely more revelations to come."

Song of the Day: Sarah Darling - When I Feel Close

Sorry for the poor quality of this video, but I think that the emotion of a live version more than makes up for that.

Sarah Darling "When I Feel Close"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4d1QDE_i8Q

When I look to the stars
That's when I feel close
I feel closer
To where you are
That's when I feel close
I feel close to you

How to Get a Job at Google

Interesting article in the New York Times, talking about Google's hiring philosophy.

"How to Get a Job at Google" by Thomas L. Friedman
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-to-get-a-job-at-google.html

There is a lot to like in this article, most importantly that Google actually studies this stuff, tries to figure out what really matters on the job.  I completely agree that titles and grades and other stuff doesn't matter.

But there is also a lot not to like, particularly the leadership part.

The second, he [Bock] added, “is leadership — in particular emergent leadership as opposed to traditional leadership. Traditional leadership is, were you president of the chess club? Were you vice president of sales? How quickly did you get there? We don’t care. What we care about is, when faced with a problem and you’re a member of a team, do you, at the appropriate time, step in and lead. And just as critically, do you step back and stop leading, do you let someone else? Because what’s critical to be an effective leader in this environment is you have to be willing to relinquish power.”

Do you step up and lead?  Do you relinquish power when you need to do that, too?  Wonderful sentiment, and I agree with it completely.  Problem is, that's not what I have seen at Google, or any other company I've ever worked at for that matter.  Nice words, but that's not what get's rewarded.

 

Back to stuff I like in the article:

What else? Humility and ownership. “It’s feeling the sense of responsibility, the sense of ownership, to step in,” he said, to try to solve any problem — and the humility to step back and embrace the better ideas of others. “Your end goal,” explained Bock, “is what can we do together to problem-solve. I’ve contributed my piece, and then I step back.”

And it is not just humility in creating space for others to contribute, says Bock, it’s “intellectual humility. Without humility, you are unable to learn.” It is why research shows that many graduates from hotshot business schools plateau. “Successful bright people rarely experience failure, and so they don’t learn how to learn from that failure,” said Bock. 

“They, instead, commit the fundamental attribution error, which is if something good happens, it’s because I’m a genius. If something bad happens, it’s because someone’s an idiot or I didn’t get the resources or the market moved. ... What we’ve seen is that the people who are the most successful here, who we want to hire, will have a fierce position. They’ll argue like hell. They’ll be zealots about their point of view. But then you say, ‘here’s a new fact,’ and they’ll go, ‘Oh, well, that changes things; you’re right.’ ” You need a big ego and small ego in the same person at the same time.

We could use more of this in politics, too!  People get locked into a position and don't change that position, even in light of new facts (global warming, anyone?).

What is least important?  Expertise.  Seriously.

The least important attribute they look for is “expertise.” Said Bock: “If you take somebody who has high cognitive ability, is innately curious, willing to learn and has emergent leadership skills, and you hire them as an H.R. person or finance person, and they have no content knowledge, and you compare them with someone who’s been doing just one thing and is a world expert, the expert will go: ‘I’ve seen this 100 times before; here’s what you do.’ ” Most of the time the nonexpert will come up with the same answer, added Bock, “because most of the time it’s not that hard.” Sure, once in a while they will mess it up, he said, but once in a while they’ll also come up with an answer that is totally new. And there is huge value in that.

Hero's Diesel Scooter

Did you see the new diesel scooter that Hero (in India) is coming out with?  From Car and Driver:

"Hero’s Amazing AWD Diesel Two-Wheeler Is Vehicular Nerdery—and Unstoppable Scootering—Incarnate" by Clifford Atiyeh 
http://blog.caranddriver.com/heros-amazing-awd-diesel-two-wheeler-is-vechicular-nerdery-and-unstoppable-scootering-incarnate/

Why am I posting this, you ask?  Well, it is an interesting scooter.  Diesel for lots of torque, and an electrically driven front wheel.  Can be used as a generator, if needed.  Very practical.

But more importantly, if you've ever been to a third world country, you know how people often can't afford cars.  So they'll have a scooter or a small motorcycle, and they'll carry an outrageous amount of stuff, maybe even the whole family.

And that's why the first (as I write this) comment is priceless, made me laugh out loud:

Typical cramped third row seating.

Nailed it, absolutely nailed it.  Hilarious!