Oh, good grief! Google draws fire from conservatives over its special logos

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Google draws fire over its special logos
The Internet search engine honors Sputnik, but not the U.S. military on Memorial Day and Veterans Day
By Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 8, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Should the world's most-used search engine be more of a Yankee Google Dandy?

Google Inc. occasionally features light-hearted doodles on its colorful home-page logo to commemorate special occasions. But now they are drawing criticism from conservatives for not being more patriotic.

The Mountain View, Calif., company bathes its logo in stars and stripes every Independence Day, but last week's decision to honor the 50th anniversary of the Sputnik launch -- the second "g" in Google was replaced with a drawing of the Soviet satellite -- is being blasted by some conservatives. Not only did Google honor an achievement by a totalitarian regime that was our Cold War enemy, they griped, but it did so without having ever altered its logo to commemorate U.S. soldiers on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

"It's a kick to your belly," said conservative blogger Giovanni Gallucci, 39, a social media consultant from Dallas. "I understand these guys are scientists and engineers and they have their quirks and want to make sure people are recognized who might not normally be recognized . . . but why not celebrate the struggles that we've come through as a people?"

Conservatives see the Sputnik logo as particularly galling because the search giant's in-house artist has tweaked the Google logo for a variety of obscure events, including World Water Day, Persian New Year, painter Edvard Munch's birthday and China's Dragon Boat Festival.

Google regularly gives more famous U.S. holidays the logo treatment, including Halloween, Thanksgiving and St. Patrick's Day (but not for Columbus Day, which was Monday). "When they ignore Veterans Day and Memorial Day, I think they're telling us something about the way they view America," said Joseph Farah, editor of WorldNetDaily.com, a conservative news site that has criticized Google's logo decisions....

***

The company defended its decision to let Veterans Day and Memorial Day pass without a special logo, saying it was trying to be respectful. "Google's special logos tend to be lighthearted and often scientific in nature," spokeswoman Sunny Gettinger said in an e-mailed statement. "We do not believe we can convey the appropriate somber tone through this medium to mark holidays like Memorial Day."...

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-google9oct09,0,2321354.story?coll=la-home-center

[Newsjock]

1. So now, 'conservative bloggers' set the news agenda at the Los Angeles Times?

Noted.

[Warren DeMontague]

7. I know. I'm scratching my head as to how this rises to the threshold of "news story"

:shrug:

[DeepModem Mom]

10. misspost, sorry

[liberaldemocrat7]

23. Some of Bush's national security conservatives give to google and work for google.

So these conservanut bloggers don't realize this.

[DeepModem Mom]

12. I read the story as, on its face, pointing out...

the ridiculous lengths conservatives go to to try to shape the world in their own image. You probably know more about news writing than I do (although I do know a number of reporters at the LA Times), but I don't think the purpose of the article was to pump up conservative bloggers.

[MisterP]

21. hell, they hired an apparatchik of "'Reason'" magazine to run an op-ed page

[splat]

25. "Google logo tweak sends critics into orbit" scoffs at these bloggers

How did you twist the mocking headline of that story -- "Google logo tweak sends critics into orbit" -- into 'Conservative bloggers' set the news agenda at the Los Angeles Times?"

I have no idea how you find anything but a straightforward account of hypersensitivity here.

They're laughing at them!

As a private company, Google can make whatever art it wants and contribute to whatever interests them, as the story says.

[DeepModem Mom]

26. You're right, splat! Although that's a new headline since I posted the OP...

I think that was indeed the sense of the article.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. I swear.

I have made it 9.5 years without a drink. If these morons keep it up with their bullshit, making it all the way to 10 just may not be in the cards.

All the things in the world to worry about and concern oneself with, and this is the best these jerkoffs can come up with? Gah.

[rockymountaindem]

3. ...And they will never give it a rest n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

4. Hey Dude: Want some cheese with that Whine?

Don't like it, start your own search engine company. You can call it GiantFuckingRightWingDoofusoogle.com

[petronius]

5. This seems to be a regular event

RWers hate Google because Google can be used to find actual facts (facts are like kryptonite to wingers). They won't be happy till Google does a special logo for Reagan's birthday...

[Warren DeMontague]

9. God Hates Facts. nt

[Tequilatarian]

6. They see what they want to see

It is hard to believe that something like this would even occur as an issue. They must have a little free time leftover from harassing Graeme Frost and his family.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. Ohhhhh, good post, Tequilatarian! Wecome to DU!!!

And, on edit, GREAT name! You may find some eager converts to Tequilatarianism here.

[Tequilatarian]

19. Thanks

Been lurking here a while.

[CoffeeCat]

8. If the conservatives don't have it their way...

...then they accuse the perceived offender as hating America.

Never mind that Google was trying to be sensitive and respectful with holidays,
such as Veteran's Day or Memorial Day. This petulant jerk, Joseph Farah, from World Net Daily
had to accuse an entire company and its employees of not caring about America.

I'm so sick of the sophomoric accusations and hysterical, paranoid name calling
from these bullies who don't get their way.

Anyone who dares to not follow the ways and means of the conservatives is
attacked and dragged through the mud.

How in the world do these assholes reconcile their personal attacks and disgraceful,
selfish behavior with their supposed religious and moral views?

These conservatives are more devil than Christ, if you ask me.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. Excellent points! nt

[lpbk2713]

11. Pissing and moaning must be a residual sort of thing.

They must still be in 'whiney' mode from losing so badly last November.

[alittlelark]

13. NASA had the Sputnik logo on their site.... 50th anniversary...

as to war related platitudes.......whatevr.....

[MetaTrope]

14. And the morons want Google to do a 9/11 logo too

Maybe they could show a jet with bin Laden's head sticking out the window?

[me b zola]

32. I'm sure that they would have Saddam's head sticking out the window

:crazy:

[monktonman]

17. Perhaps Google is trying to be Non-political??

Hence no Memorial / Veterans / Columbus day logo's?
Why would a company want to play with that match and possibly alienate their customers.
On another note, when Google was an up and comer raking in billions of dallars
I'm sure these same conservabitches didnt mind taking the stock money now did they.

[Swamp Rat]

18. WAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

[KingFlorez]

20. Will these people ever stop nitpicking?

It time they realized that most people don't really care what they think.

[Deb]

22. Google stock is at $600

Let em whine.

[NashVegas]

50. Rupert Needs It Lowered for His Takeover Bid

So he's sending out the bulldogs to soften the target.

[Dark]

24. Is anybody surprised at this coming from the party that complains about the lack of a pin? n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

27. FYI, NEW HEADLINE SINCE I POSTED THE OP: Google logo tweak sends critics into orbit

n/t

[riverdeep]

28. Enshrine my beliefs into credible society.

Put my commandments into the court room. Make my flag so sacred it can't be burned without retribution. Make a resolution to never question a military commander's patriotism, even if it means silencing all questioning. And most of all, make Google stop taunting me! Make them stop!!!

[DeepModem Mom]

46. Yep. Make the world in my image, my way or the hightway...down to the last detail. nt

[Lucinda]

29. All the problems in the world

and they choose to get their knickers in a twist over a shout-out for Sputnik?
What planet am I on today? Jeeeeez.

[ThoughtCriminal]

30. Many southern states refused to honor "Decoration Day"

The fore-runner of Memorial day, because it was originally designated to honor Union soldiers killed during the Civil War. Later Decoration Day was expanded to include those who died in any war.

Veterans Day is celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended WW I.

[Monk06]

31. "Giovanni Gallucci, 39, a social media consultant" WTH is social media and

who would need a social media consultant?

Blogito ergo sum

Just another RW gasbag masquerading as an
an expert on cultural issues.

[prole_for_peace]

33. i'll meet your "good grief" and raise you a "for pete's sake"

these people are always just looking for a fight. there is NOTHING else more worthwhile that they could spend their time on i guess. well unless it is fighting "the gay" and choice...

[cornermouse]

34. I don't know why anyone would use google.

All you ever get from them is commercial websites. And speaking of search engines, have any of you noticed how you can't get the same kind of results that you used to? You get a bunch of junk instead. What's going on with that?

[and-justice-for-all]

35. Conservative fucking idiots!!! for fakes sake!!!

There are people dying from War, starving to death and facing genocide and this is what those fuck-up Cons cry about!?? FUCK ME!!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

36. It HAS to be freepers when

Being respectful is being disrespectful.

head... meet brickwall... brickwall... this is head.

Thwack :banghead: and thwack again

[Norrin Radd]

37. Here -- to be fair,

I made a Google logo that the conservatives would wholeheartedly approve of:

[DeepModem Mom]

45. Good one!!! And sadly, true. nt

[blondeatlast]

47. That's great!

:rofl:

[tsuki]

38. If that is all Giovanni Gallucci has to gripe about, he needs to STFU. n/t

[NMMNG]

39. They think they have to rule everything

Their god has to be in and on everything, America has to be in and on everything, White people have to be the focus of everything. If anything else dare be recognized then it's Christianity/America/White bashing.

[City Lights]

40. A Con-kook wants the Google banner to sport a US-flag lapel pin...

:eyes:

Get a life, Sparky.

So recognizing the anniversary of Sputnik's launch is a "quirk." :eyes: Oh my.

[tanyev]

41. Maybe they can work in the Moran Guy for the next National Idiot's Day.

[aikoaiko]

42. Actually, it bothers me a little that they don't do memorial day or verteran's day, too.

But its theirs to do or not do.

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. It looks like their outlook is international

The examples given are, on the whole, days that would be known internationally, or easily explained - so July 4th qualifies for that. Memorial Day is a US-only day, with a fairly arbitrary date. Veterans' Day is marked by other countries as 'Armistice Day' or similar, but there's also the point that the 'holiday logos' seem to be used for celebration, and both those holidays are a bit more somber.

[aikoaiko]

48. All very true

....but it wouldn't hurt them to honor memorial day or veterans day either even if they are somber or US based.

They don't have to explain themselves and they can do as they wish, but if I were in charge I would honor the men and women who serve the country in which Google is based.

I don't think they are unAmerican or anything like that.

[Vinca]

43. Nothing like worrying about the big issues of the day.

Everyone got their "Made In China" American flag pin on?

[Beelzebud]

49. Conservatives are the biggest bunch of whiney idiots in all of human history..

Someone call the WHAAAAAAAAmbulance.

[Romulox]

51. Google is an immoral, multinational juggernaut...

Google happily collaborates with the PRC to silence dissidents.

Then they put a happy face logo on their home page! :puke:

[ecstatic]

52. Too much time on their hands much?

GEE to the fcking whiz! :crazy:

[rAVES]

53. Wow, this story really angers up the blood..