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Google Opens Sydney Office, Internship Program

An anonymous reader writes "ZDNet is reporting that Google has kicked off an internship program that will see Australian university students work in projects in the company's Sydney office. Google's local head of engineering, Lars Rasmussen, said 5-10 spots would be made available, with both technical and non-technical positions on offer. ZDNet Australia also has pictures of the official opening of Google's Sydney office."

110 comments

  1. Motto by hpcanswers · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess Google will have to promote "don't be evil" in a country founded by convicts.

    1. Re:Motto by InDi0 · · Score: 1, Funny

      But its doing that already in the US.

    2. Re:Motto by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1
      I guess Google will have to promote "don't be evil" in a country founded by convicts.

      Where justice is in the hands of Philip Ruddock no less.

    3. Re:Motto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      It wasn't founded by convicts you ignorant fuckwit - it was a penal colony for a time - same as the US was.

    4. Re:Motto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Actually, not only was it not founded by convicts, but it wasn't even a penal colony. It was originally a number of free colonies. They did accept convicts, but they weren't founded for that purpose.

      Mod granparent -1, Fucking Idiot.

    5. Re:Motto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I'd perfer to live in a country founded by convicts rather then live in one thats run by a money grubbing oil monkey that kills innocent lives for his own greedy and capitalistic agenda.

    6. Re:Motto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Far better than in a country ruled by criminals.

    7. Re:Motto by thealsir · · Score: 1

      aye mate let's head to china to see how it's really done now eh?

      --
      Do not downmod posts "overrated" simply because you disagree with them.
    8. Re:Motto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well Google already has had lots of experience doing that in the US

    9. Re:Motto by richy486 · · Score: 0

      Australia has both

    10. Re:Motto by frostw · · Score: 1

      Um, yes it was. The British were desperate to relieve the pressure on their overcrowded jails. With the loss of the American colonies they needed somewhere else to dump the rubbish.

      --
      http://www.sydney-webcam.com
    11. Re:Motto by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1
      With the loss of the American colonies they needed somewhere else to dump the rubbish.

      From my POV this seems like a strange thing to do now. A bit like us sending criminals to the moon.

    12. Re:Motto by jamesh · · Score: 1

      If you want to be really PC, it was 'founded' 40000 years ago by people who are now known as Aboriginals, or Indigenous Australians. The British established it as a penal colony in the late 1700's (yes, it was established for that purpose and convicts formed a major part of the original colony, so you're speaking out of your arse :P), and basically ignored the rights of the previous inhabitants.

      There was a theory that Australia was actually settled some 200000 years ago by another group of settlers, and that they in turn were more or less wiped out 40000 years ago, which kind of reminds me vaguely of the opening storyline of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, for reasons best kept to myself. I can't find any reference to support this theory though, so possibly it was just speculation in a short article I once read.

    13. Re:Motto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Some of the colonies were free colonies, some were free that later accepted criminals, and some were always penal colonies.

      The nation of "Australia" didn't exist until federation in 1901. So the country Australia was not founded by convicts, but the colonies of New South Wales and Tasmania were.

    14. Re:Motto by shitdrummer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually it was the the Royal Navy as reperesentatives of the Queen of England who founded Australia*. (After the Dutch and Macassans (and others) had been trading with the locals for decades, if not centuries.)

      It took the convicts to make it the greatest country on Earth. Yeah... you heard me... the Greatest Country on Earth! :)

      How about that! England sends all their undesirables off to far away Van Diemen's land (as Australia was known then) as punnishment for minor crimes (e.g. stealing a loaf of bread to feed a starving family) and in retaliation the convicts (and their decendents) help to establish the greatest country on Earth and in time manage to best their historical gaol masters at almost every sport known to man. As final retaliation, Australia sends their brightest and fittest young men and women "home" each year to drink the bars dry, bed the local women and men, and take all the good spots in their County cricket teams, leaving nothing but chaos, broken hearts and smashed records along the way.

      Not to mention the weather. :)

      *Although it was the British who founded Australia, upon arrival the they discovered some curious locals who later turned out to have probably settled in some 20,000 - 40,000 thousand years earlier. They weren't considered important at the time though, mostly because they had the unfortunate misfortune to have been born black. Sadly, they're still not generally considered important, mostly due to the fact that they are still mostly black.

      P.S. Sorry. You will know what I mean if this is meant for you.

      Shitdrummer.

    15. Re:Motto by timbo234 · · Score: 1

      Putting aside the fact that Australia was actually founded by the British government as a place to 'store' convicts and farm/mine/exploit natural resources, I'd rather live in a country founded by convicts than one founded by puritans.

      --
      Pre-canned Evolution Links for all those Slashdot holy wars.
    16. Re:Motto by scum-e-bag · · Score: 1
      England sends all their undesirables off to far away Van Diemen's land (as Australia was known then)

      Tasmania was known as Van Diemen's Land. Various colonies, such as New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, combined to form the Commonwealth of Australia. Van Diemens Land was renamed to Tasmania to honor the first euopean to locate Tasmania.
      --
      Does it go on forever?
    17. Re:Motto by Domstersch · · Score: 1

      Indeed, the story you outline about settlers 200,000 years ago bears curious similarities to the myth of the Moriori. The Moriori were(/are?) a real race that inhabited the Chatham Islands, but the myth went that they originally inhabited New Zealand too, and were wiped out by the racially superior New Zealand Maori.

      See, it's an awful lot easier to feel good about almost wiping out a supposedly inferior race when you've got a nice convenient story to say that they did the same earlier.

      --
      =w=
    18. Re:Motto by MrPC81 · · Score: 1

      The Colony of New South Wales was founded as a penal settlement in 1788.

      The Commonwealth of Australia was not, it was founded in 1901 as a Federation of six free colonies.

      There is an important distinction.

    19. Re:Motto by zsau · · Score: 1

      While we're being pedantic, "Van Diemen's Land" did not join in the federation; it was already known as Tasmania by then. This actually occurred to avoid the connotations the harsh penal colony had after transportation finished.

      --
      Look out!
    20. Re:Motto by Zeinfeld · · Score: 1

      It is interesting to note that the first priority for the British authorities was to rid themselves of the puritans. Getting rid of thieves was a much lower priority. All countries develop ridiculous foundation myths. The story of the giants Gog and Maggog is not taught in modern British schools but it certainly was popular in druid times. The Australians overstate the role of the convicts because it plays well, just as Americans vastly overstate the role of taxation in the revolutionary war. The Whigs understood that taxation was inevitable, the real complaint was the lack of representation. Still interesting choice of news priorities for slashdot: Google hires intern. What next? Microsoft hires canteen staff, Linus has breakfast.

      --
      Looking for an Information Security student project suggestion?
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    21. Re:Motto by emotionus · · Score: 1

      no one in the united states is capitalist.

    22. Re:Motto by drsquare · · Score: 1

      Greatest country in the world?

      1. Skin cancer
      2. Deadly spiders and snakes in your house
      3. Long travel times to get across the country
      4. Inconvenient timezone
      5. No decent sports leagues
      6. John Howard

    23. Re:Motto by drsquare · · Score: 1

      By the way if Australia's so great and Britain's so crap why are there so many of them over here? It seems that an Australian has two job prospects:

      1. Hunting crocodiles
      2. Pulling pints in England

    24. Re:Motto by tdelaney · · Score: 1

      1. Skin cancer
      I'm a geek.

      2. Deadly spiders and snakes in your house
      Other countries have bears.

      3. Long travel times to get across the country
      Beats unbelievable travel times to get across the CBD ...

      4. Inconvenient timezone
      Inconvenient for you perhaps. I quite like it. Only have to deal with yanks in the early morning.

      5. No decent sports leagues
      Huh?

      6. John Howard
      Tony Blair. No - you definitely win this one. Now if you were from the US ... at least we can say Johnny acts that way because he's got his head stuck so far up Bush's arse - Bush has no excuse.

    25. Re:Motto by WilliamSChips · · Score: 1

      Only New England was founded by Puritans.

      --
      Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
    26. Re:Motto by G-funk · · Score: 1

      1. Skin cancer

      Huh? People start dying all over europe if you get a "heatwave" and it's over 35 degrees for a weeek. Pussies.

      2. Deadly spiders and snakes in your house

      Don't forget the world's most venomous fish, snake, shellfish, octopus, jellyfish, and dropbears. And that's how we likes it. Pussies.

      3. Long travel times to get across the country

      It's ok so long as you're not driving anything british or american. Pussies.

      4. Inconvenient timezone

      No, YOU GUYS are in the inconvenient timezone.

      5. No decent sports leagues

      Oh boo-hoo, poor old england, has to pretend they're only interested in soccer, because it's the only sport at which they can beat the aussies.

      6. John Howard

      Bah! What difference does it make who the figurehead is? Politicians are all the same, they're just serving different special interests. Some big business, some the farmers, some the corrupt unions. Nobody's interested in the common man, save his vote.

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    27. Re:Motto by timbo234 · · Score: 1

      And if that's true why do so many British live in Australia? And a lot of them actually stay and settle long term whereas almost all us Aussies in Britain go home after a few years.

      --
      Pre-canned Evolution Links for all those Slashdot holy wars.
    28. Re:Motto by timbo234 · · Score: 1

      "1. Skin cancer"

      Its called sunshine :) Most Americans and Europeans spend vast amounts of money to go somewhere with good weather for a couple of weeks in summer. We get it all year round and all we have to do is remember to put on a hat or slap on some sunscreen occasionally.

      "2. Deadly spiders and snakes in your house"

      Not in my house!

      "3. Long travel times to get across the country"

      Same with America. As opposed to Europe we're not all squashed together and our roads are not one big, continuous traffic jam.

      "4. Inconvenient timezone"

      Only for people who don't live in Australia, its perfectly convient for us Aussies.

      "5. No decent sports leagues"

      Maybe not in sports you happen to like.

      "6. John Howard"

      Or Tony Blair, George Bush, etc. take your pick - politicians are the same everywhere.

      --
      Pre-canned Evolution Links for all those Slashdot holy wars.
    29. Re:Motto by jamesh · · Score: 1

      Ah. So now all of us Australian's can say to the previous inhabitants, "I know you were treated badly, but we can't be held responsible for anything that happened prior to 1901 because that was the "Colony of New South Wales". No? I didn't think so either. (Not that it matters. Things didn't change in that respect a lot after 1901 anyway)

      The name "Commonwealth of Australia" might have been founded in 1901, but it was the same people who were there in 1900, so I don't think the distinction is as important as you say it is.

    30. Re:Motto by jamesh · · Score: 1

      See, it's an awful lot easier to feel good about almost wiping out a supposedly inferior race when you've got a nice convenient story to say that they did the same earlier.

      I did some reading after I posted, and I have a sneaking suspicion that that is indeed the motive behind the story I remember.

      Based on the research I read, it seems that the "modern human" came out of Africa about 200000 years ago, so it does seem a bit far fetched to think that they made it to Australia at the same time anyway.

    31. Re:Motto by drsquare · · Score: 1

      Other countries have bears.

      Bears don't hide in your bed.

      Beats unbelievable travel times to get across the CBD ...

      CBD?

      Inconvenient for you perhaps. I quite like it.

      Crap for watching the football on TV.

    32. Re:Motto by drsquare · · Score: 1

      Huh? People start dying all over europe if you get a "heatwave" and it's over 35 degrees for a weeek.

      I don't need to wear a hat, tshirt and suncream to go outside in the summer, Australians live under a hole in the ozone layer. Brilliant eh?

      And that's how we likes it.

      Yeah, it's great having to electrocute your arm every day to stop it rotting off.

      No, YOU GUYS are in the inconvenient timezone.

      You have to get up at all sorts of obscure times to watch any decent sports on TV, we're not interested in watching whatever that fucking game is with a cricket pitch and flagpoles everywhere.

      Oh boo-hoo, poor old england, has to pretend they're only interested in soccer, because it's the only sport at which they can beat the aussies.

      What else are we supposed to be interested in? Rugby and cricket are for wierdos over here, and yet we still took the Ashes and World Cup off you. Not that we care about beating Australia in any sport, I'm afraid that like with Scotland, that bitterness is one way. Our rivals are countries like Argentina and Germany, not some desert island on the arse-end of the world with a giant chip on its shoulder.

    33. Re:Motto by MrPC81 · · Score: 1

      Actually, now that you mention it, I'd say a fair bit changed. Just look at the levels of Chinese emigration to Australia before 1901 vs after. Before there was plenty, particularlyl during the gold rush(es). After, well, shortly after federation the White Australia Policy came in.

  2. So... by barefootgenius · · Score: 1

    Who's going to be the first to do a Google Mate logo?

    --
    /. bug #926803 - Why I can post.
    1. Re:So... by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1
      Who's going to be the first to do a Google Mate logo?

      google.com.au has Australian themed logos all the time, notably on anzac day.

    2. Re:So... by barefootgenius · · Score: 1
      Bugger me!


      Got a surprise when I looked at your site. This is an excerpt from an email I sent today.
      "This, I feel, can be solved very easily. On the old telephone system you could (at least on Great Barrier Is.) call the operator and get her/him to patch you through to the entire Island. This could be implemented in the New Zealand telecommunications system with an option to broadcast to all people in a particular area with the emergency and the backup plan. In the case of a Tsunami alert, I would imagine it would work somewhat like this;"


      2005-01-08 till Tuesday, May 16 2006, errr, ok we are a bit behind down here. :)

      --
      /. bug #926803 - Why I can post.
  3. Re:Who cares? by phrasebook · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not me. Am I the only one who hates the idea of working at Google? The primary colours, the shapes, the cushions, the free food, the nerd-funk graduates. Ugh. I'd go insane. Or do I just sound bitter? I have no reason to be, it just makes me gag.

    Besides, the only thing they'll be doing in the Australian office is marketing and advertising. Always the way.

  4. Link to cache by barefootgenius · · Score: 0
    --
    /. bug #926803 - Why I can post.
  5. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    more like mapping actually.

  6. Re:Who cares? by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1
    the free food, the nerd-funk graduates. Ugh. I'd go insane.

    Moving to Sydney would do it for me.

  7. "Google goes down, under" by jkrise · · Score: 2, Funny

    would've been a juicier title, methinks! /. editors sleeping?

    --
    If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
  8. Re:The food at Google by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1
    Yahoo employees sneeking over to google cafteria for a taste of their excellent variety of rich food.

    And let me guess, google now know what food adwords to put up when those people are browsing the web.

  9. US WAS ALSO A PENAL COLONY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_colony

    so quit and stop re-inforcing US stereotypes.

    1. Re:US WAS ALSO A PENAL COLONY by A+beautiful+mind · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      So, how are you doing on the penal colonies?

      Your friendly slashdot user from good old Europe ;)

      --
      It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
      Be yourself no matter what they say
    2. Re:US WAS ALSO A PENAL COLONY by tddoog · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      No it wasn't, I just fixed the wikipedia. just kidding

    3. Re:US WAS ALSO A PENAL COLONY by humble.fool · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Welcome to slashdot. I see you're lacking a sense of humor. That might make using and enjoying this site rather difficult. I recommend that you try alternate, more troll-friendly climes.

      --
      Being anonymous is not cowardice.
    4. Re:US WAS ALSO A PENAL COLONY by aonic · · Score: 1

      Nah, only Georgia. The northern states were religious activitst.

      Says alot about us, no?

  10. Re:The food at Google by bigmouth_strikes · · Score: 4, Funny

    > The food at google is said to be one of the finest you can get anywhere.

    That statement says alot about the eating habits of geeks and also the power of Google lore. I'm sure the trash at Google HQ smells like roses and that their staff is so clean and tidy that the restrooms never needs cleaning, but nevertheless Google employs 99 virgins that clean them after every visit there.

    --
    Oh, I can't help quoting you because everything that you said rings true
  11. Good for Aussies! by e-r00 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So now Australian students can also enjoy the benefits of internships at Google. On the other hand, if you try hard enough, you can find an internship position in e.g. Mountain View even if you're not American. So all of you people that would like to try working for Google and don't have a Googleplex around, just give it a chance. Another thing - now only one continent is Google-free. That's Africa. I wonder if any of the major software companies will eventually try to establish an R&D office over there.

    1. Re:Good for Aussies! by baadger · · Score: 1

      Nah, the dry arid browns of the plains of Africa (or atleast how it's perceived by many) don't go with Google's happy shiney colourful logo.

    2. Re:Good for Aussies! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On the other hand, if you try hard enough, you can find an internship position in e.g. Mountain View even if you're not American.

      Some of us would like to avoid visiting the US until the leaders become a little less batshit insane.

    3. Re:Good for Aussies! by gavcam · · Score: 1

      I think you'll find that there are 2 continents that are google free... the other being Antarctica.

      Don't they teach Geography anymore?

      G

    4. Re:Good for Aussies! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That explains why the default Ubuntu is brown? hehe. ;)

    5. Re:Good for Aussies! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ZZZZZZZ, Google Antartica is old news.

      See the local map for yourself...

  12. Re:The food at Google by 91degrees · · Score: 1

    Yes, notonly that, but the air at Google is cleaner and purer and free of pollutants, and they also offer free elixir of life as well as coffee and Mountain Dew. And they have free massages, and there is no crime or disease there, and evryone is always happy.

  13. Re:The food at Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought Mountain Dew WAS the elixar of life...

  14. Other offices by hey · · Score: 2, Informative
  15. Re:Who cares? by Joel+from+Sydney · · Score: 2, Informative
    Besides, the only thing they'll be doing in the Australian office is marketing and advertising. Always the way.
    Actually, the Google Australia job openings page seems to suggest otherwise. More engineering positions available than anything else.
  16. Re:The food at Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Remember lots of companies had great food in the boom.
    Oh oh.

  17. Australia still not on the Google Map(s) by ynotds · · Score: 2, Interesting
    At 2% and falling of the affluent world market, we are used to having our patience tried by new kids on the technology block, but after reading the iTWire report from Stuart Corner, who has been around the local industry as long as I have, it suddenly makes a lot less sense. Best to just quote Stuart quoting Lars Rasmussen, head of engineering for Google Australia:
    The company's R&D in Australia started in late 2004 when Google acquired Where 2 Technologies, a mapping company founded by Rasmussen, his brother and two Australian friends.

    "We formed about half of the team that put out Google Maps about a year ago and once we had done that we started lobbying to have a fully-fledged engineering centre in Sydney, Rasmussen said.

    "The Sydney engineers still form a very significant part of the team that is working on Google Maps and I think that fact is going to make Google Australia an extremely attractive place for the top programmers and computer scientists to seek employment.(")
    So Google acquires an Australian outfit with mapping expertise so they can put their technology into Google Maps, and nearly a year after Maps was launched the maps view of Australia contains nothing more than a monochrome continent dotted with unlikely bodies of water. No roads, no cities, a status which only our indigenous community are entitled to dream about.

    Yes, I do have a prototype application using the Maps API which has had to rely on satelite/aerial images to place pins and, no, this isn't a job application, at least not unless they have a need for some very part time context analysis.
    --
    -- Our systemic servants do not good masters make.
    1. Re:Australia still not on the Google Map(s) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      No roads, no cities, a status which only our indigenous community are entitled to dream about.
      Care to elaborate?
    2. Re:Australia still not on the Google Map(s) by babbling · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Google Maps doesn't have map data for Australia, only satellite imagery.

      When Australia was colonised by the British, there were already people living here. Most of them were effectively massacred, because the British did not consider them "advanced people" or something. The British effectively stole their land, started "Australia", and the small percentage of aborigines who make up Australia's population would probably like the land to still be regarded as theirs. That isn't how things are, though.

  18. Re:Motto (take two) by hpcanswers · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    My, my, my... lots of anonymous coward responses today. I guess I should point out that I actually, you know, live in Australia. Fancy that.

  19. Re:The food at Google by tehcyder · · Score: 1
    So the food's better than all those award-winning restaurants and 5 star hotels?

    Like to share the menu?

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  20. I heard the internships are hard by digitaldc · · Score: 2, Funny

    These internships are quite difficult, you are only given a computer and internet connection and then are asked to Google search for all your supplies, co-workers, and even the bathroom.

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  21. Re:The food at Google by NitsujTPU · · Score: 1

    I don't have a link, but this tidbit is actually true. Google has a badass cafeteria that will give you a really good lunch, like salmon or steak and so on.

  22. Google Notebook also? by Richard_at_work · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I havent seen it announced anywhere, but Google seems to have just released an online notebook with Firefox and IE integration - http://www.google.com/notebook/

  23. Wow! by ziggyboy · · Score: 1

    I'm currently applying for an engineering position in the Sydney Google office. I got myself into a third interview which is yet to be scheduled. Damnit that office looks nice... now I'd really feel bad if I don't get in. :(

    1. Re:Wow! by babbling · · Score: 1

      Would you mind telling us a bit about your qualifications, please? I'd love a job at Google, but their requirements seem quite high. They seem to want people with Masters degrees or PhDs.

      I feel I'm capable, but I don't have a Masters or PhD...

    2. Re:Wow! by gregl18 · · Score: 1

      If you feel you have the ability and desire then apply. The high standards or should I say criteria are set to ward off those that are just "chancers". Your CV is the number one priority here. Make sure it can sell you or show that you do have the skill set etc that will convince them to give you a call. Apply...you have nothing to lose.

    3. Re:Wow! by ziggyboy · · Score: 1

      I hold a bachelor's degree in CS and doing masters part-time. I do not meet all the requirements in their job site but I know I have equivalent experience. Hmmm...what kind of experience you may ask... I've organised, lectured and participated in numerous open source and Linux events since 1996 and got into a UNIX admin job when I was 16. I know that I know my stuff because I have met people with a lot more full-time commercial experience but suprisingly know less than I do. I may sound like I'm bragging but sometimes you just have to sell yourself aggressively to get noticed.

  24. Re:Motto (take two) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmm... if you live here... your ignorance can't be excused by the fact that you're culturally pre-disposed to it the way we like to think United Statesians are.

    Australia was settled by the English who then used it for various purposes including the importation of cheap labour in the form of people who weren't... you know... free.

  25. They're not recruiting Austrailians! by mishmash · · Score: 1

    >Moving to Sydney would do it for me.

    They really do want people to move to Sidney

    On this network security job ad located in Sydney Austrilia it says: "Please Note: Only candidates with EU work authorization will be considered."

    1. Re:They're not recruiting Austrailians! by babbling · · Score: 1

      I'm betting on that being a typo. What good is EU work authorization for a job in Sydney, Australia? They probably meant to type "AU", or selected the wrong option from a "job wizard" program's list box.

  26. Re:The food at Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
  27. Re:The food at Google by tehcyder · · Score: 1

    Blimey, I am genuinely impressed.

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  28. Great PR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Google has a fantastic PR team in place. They are able to get every minor event on slashdot.

  29. 5-10 spots by miro+f · · Score: 1

    5 to 10 spots for all of Australia?

    thanks for the offer, Google, but it's going to be difficult to get one of those spots

    I'd better start preparing my resume

    --
    being vague is almost as cool as doing that other thing...
  30. Non-technical by cerberusss · · Score: 1

    A secretary with a PhD.

    --
    8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
  31. Food by Yag · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why (americans companies, usually) are so excited by free drinks and good food facilities INSIDE working place? I mean, in europe we are used to go out of office for lunch, every day, possibly changing place anytime possible, or even going at home if close enaugh, so what's the good points of having free coke inside work? It's nothing healty, nor expensive if you want to but it yourself, so, i can't really understand why google and other big companies tries to gain people attention showing this bonuses (i'm referring to the photos). I can't just understand, here in italy it doesn't make any "plus" having free coke inside the office, it's just useless, at lunch, you go out, you sit down, and eat, possibly with people different from the ones you see at work. It's just better than anything inside my workplace.

    1. Re:Food by lotsotech · · Score: 1

      We get to go out for lunch too. Free drinks is just a plus for the time that you're in the office.

    2. Re:Food by Foolicious · · Score: 1

      I can only speak for myself, but I live 35 miles (56 km) from my workplace. So I can't go grab a bite to eat with my friends because they're all at least that far away. The friends I want to eat with are my friends here at work.

      Secondly, my place of work also requires that you drive if you want to go grab something to eat for lunch. This is a pain and adds to the cost of going out.

      Now - I work in a suburban area. I would imagine those who work in urban areas, as well as those who live closer to their work place, might have more convenient choices for going out, visiting with friends, etc., without the hassle of driving.

      Finally, I may be guilty of cultural ignorance here (OH NO!), but I eat at work because I am hungry -- not for some kind of social time. The sooner I finish my work, the sooner I go home and enjoy the things I actually enjoy, not the the things I enjoy because they pay me money to do them. Do I enjoy the lunches I have with coworkers? Yeah. Would I trade them for more time to do as I please at home or somewhere else? Indeed.

      --
      Please don't use "umm" or "err" or "erm".
    3. Re:Food by dasdrewid · · Score: 1

      You only drink cokes at lunch?

      Seriously, though, there are many good reasons for having this. One reply already touched on some, but here are some more.

      Some people have to work through lunch. Many jobs with salaries simply say you have to have such and such done by such and such time. If something happens and time is running short, you often have to stay over lunch (or after-hours) to finish it. Having free coke (and a freakin' nice kitchen...) allows (and possibly) encourages employees to stay the extra time and put in the extra work by making it a (as much as possible) pleasant experience. You don't have to run out and grab something, you don't have to order in crap fast-food, you can have something right there. Same with late-nights, where restaurants might even be closed.

      Some people need a break every now and then. Sometimes, I can work for 8 hours straight and never move, because I'm "in the zone". Sometimes, I need a break, just like 5 minutes, every now and then. With this, I could take a break from the serious work without getting so far away that I get distracted. And I don't have to pay for that break which, frankly, is necessary for my productivity and really ought to be provided by the company if they want me to perform.

      It all depends on what you like, and this allows Google to appeal to a wider range of people (and remember, they want good people, they want people who have to be appealed to, people who are in demand and could go anywhere they want, not just anyone who will come in and work). People can still go your route, leave, eat lunch, etc. But this makes it easier for the geeks around here who deem the outside world as "the big blue room".

      --
      No trespassing. Violators will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.
    4. Re:Food by deek · · Score: 1
      ... so what's the good points of having free coke inside work?


      If it's free, it tastes better. Scientifically proven fact.
  32. Re:The food at Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    nevertheless Google employs 99 virgins

    No, like all large tech companies Google employs hundreds or even thousands of virgins.

    Disclaimer: I work in a tech company and I am a virgin.

  33. Last week by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Exxon opened a new Gasoline Station down the street from my house. Should I submit that as a story?

    1. Re:Last week by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nice!

  34. Re:So they are replacing the answering machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I find it amusing that even though there is a large amount of truth in this GP that simply because it took a blow at google it got trolled down, heck.

    Google is good, Google is great. Google was founded by mother teresa and their headoffice is situated accross the road from the perly gates of heaven.

    Mod +5 now thanks.

  35. Penal Colonies - Strategic Importance by PhillC · · Score: 2, Informative

    The British colonies in Australia were not merely founded as a dumping ground for criminals. There was a high strategic importance for a British colony in the Pacific - to thwart French ambitions must also be considered.

    For example the French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville arrived in what became French Polynesia in 1768 and claimed the islands for France. This roughly coincides with James Cook's first voyage of discovery (1768 - 1771) that resulted in the circumnavigation of New Zealand and the mapping of the east coast of Australia. There was definitely strong interest in the region from both the British and the French.

    The unknown "Terra Australis" was seen as potentially an El Dorado, hiding great mineral and other natural wealth ready to be exploited. After all, the archipelago of Indonesia, then known as the Spice Islands, were an important source of income for the Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese.

    Establishing a penal colony in such a remote location was a low risk method of establishing a permenant presence. If the colony was lost, nobody would miss a few convicts, foolhardy free adventurers and a detachment of Marines. If the penal colony was a success, Britain had expanded her empire and thus power.

    --
    Brought to you by the author of such childrens' classics as "Some Kittens can Fly!" and "All Dogs go to Hell."
  36. Fast food counter by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 1

    Good lord, this first picture just screams "would you like fries with that". I would think that someone qualified to work there would be least likely of all of us to say that.

    http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/hardware/soa/Photo_ga llery_Googleplex_in_Sydney/0,2000061702,39256655,0 0.htm

    --
    Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
  37. Re:The food at Google by ElderKorean · · Score: 1

    Yes, notonly that, but the air at Google is cleaner and purer and free of pollutants, and they also offer free elixir of life as well as coffee and Mountain Dew. And they have free massages, and there is no crime or disease there, and evryone is always happy.
    Major difference here in Australia is that Mountain Dew contains no caffiene. So I doubt that it would attain the same level of use.

  38. free advertising on slashdot continues by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who cares? Are you going to put news on slashdot every time a company opens 5 positions??? Stop being such google whores.

  39. Re:The food at Google by drsquare · · Score: 1

    The food at google is said to be one of the finest you can get anywhere.

    Considering that the finest food you can get can cost $100 just for the ingredients and expensive, highly-trained chefs (top restaurants are often barely profitable even with obscene prices), if your statement is true then Google could double their profits just by cancelling dinner. Do the shareholders know about this?

  40. Re:The food at Google by timothy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I ate at Google once, thanks to Chris DiBona: it was indeed excellent. Like a mall food court in paradise; a wide variety of well-prepared food, plus a huge wall cooler of drinks from mundane to interesting, obscure stuff. Venison rounds. Asparagus. Super cake, delicious cookies. Great salad. And a sushi stand near the exit to the building, where the chef said "Sure, have a box! Enjoy!"

    It was dreamlike :)

    Tim

    --
    jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
  41. easier picture browsing by gigel · · Score: 1

    "ZDNet Australia also has pictures of the official opening of Google's Sydney office" -> don't forget to easier browse the pictures with nakedbrowser: http://rawdataserver.com/dude/browser/?x=&nakedurl =http://www.zdnet.com.au/shared/images/news/google /office1.jpg

  42. MS is The US Monopoly, Google Should Move... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...to a country where the local government is open to a quality company competing in a fair manner. It should be apparent to any adult observer that MS has purchased the right to be the sole provider of most horizontally focused software products here in the US. So, it only makes sense to try and compete and do business where it is legal to do so.

    1. Re:MS is The US Monopoly, Google Should Move... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Speaking of which, do you suppose there was a solemn chair-throwing ceremony at the Microsoft Sydney offices scheduled for when the Google office was officially opened?

      They must be furious that it was such a media event, replete with both journalists and politicians.

  43. Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The outsourcing of well paying American jobs continues.

    1. Re:Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And a job oportunity opens for the many talented Australian Developers.

      Google is a world-wide company now, its makes sense for them to have their employees spread out aroudn teh globe, closer to home for those who dont want ot have to move to another country to simply work for a company.

      Hard for some to believe but some people would actually like to work for/with google. ..Allthough i wish they'd get some better australian maps... their presence is rather useless currently..

  44. Re:The food at Google by grae · · Score: 2, Informative

    disclaimer: I used to work at Google.

    Since I no longer work there, I can't really speak to the quality of the food these days, except I can make the observation that it's harder to cook for thousands of people than for hundreds of people.

    In the early days, the food was *great*. There wasn't much of a selection, but as Charlie started cooking for more people, it improved. I don't know if I believe that it was enough of a reason to get a job there, but it was definitely the best company-supplied food I've ever eaten. That said, I did go out to lunch at least once a week, just for the change of scenery. And to avoid the long lines. (See, even when you've got it good you come up with something to complain about.)

    Then I moved to New York. I was so disappointed with lunch there. (It has since improved substantially, but I doubt it will ever get to the level of Charlie's cooking.) Not only that, but for a while, lunch was only available 4 days a week (the official story being that Sergey wanted to encourage people to explore the restaurants in New York. Which generally meant exploring the takeout lunch place next door, so that didn't work so well.) What were the differences? Mountain View had food that was cooked onsite from organic ingredients and was actually healthy. The other offices (and I visited Santa Monica and Kirkland as well) had catered food that tended not to be.

    I enjoy my food. Eating Charlie's food was an experience worth comparing to restaurants in New York. And it was impossible to beat the price. But as far as the best food available anywhere, it's always a good idea to get some variety in your life.

    The last time I ate lunch in Mountain View (a few months ago) the food was still miles better than my college dining hall. The last time I ate in New York it was worse.

    So my advice: if you're going to go work at Google, in an office outside of Mountain View, do it because of the people you'll be working with and the projects you'll be working on (which are worth it), not because of the free food. Chances are anywhere else you'd work would pay you enough for food anyways, so really, it's not *that* big a deal.

  45. Senator Coonan by glowworm · · Score: 1

    I see that Senator Helen Coonan missed a chance to be in mining gear like the rest of cabinet :/ and had to settle with cutting a ribbon instead?

    --
    Orationem pulchram non habens, scribo ista linea in lingua Latina
  46. That changed fast by ynotds · · Score: 1

    The Sydney Morning Herald reports and my old bookmarks quickly confirmed that street maps for Australian cities are finally on the map.

    I'm guessing I might now have to upgrade my prototype application to use version 2 of the Maps API to get the street maps to show there.

    --
    -- Our systemic servants do not good masters make.