Seeping water thro' the Iron Curtain, may be for the $ kickbacks

Google in China

1/27/2006 11:58:00 AM
Posted by Andrew McLaughlin, senior policy counsel

Google users in China today struggle with a service that, to be blunt, isn't very good. Google.com appears to be down around 10% of the time. Even when users can reach it, the website is slow, and sometimes produces results that when clicked on, stall out the user's browser. Our Google News service is never available; Google Images is accessible only half the time. At Google we work hard to create a great experience for our users, and the level of service we've been able to provide in China is not something we're proud of.

This problem could only be resolved by creating a local presence, and this week we did so, by launching Google.cn, our website for the People's Republic of China. In order to do so, we have agreed to remove certain sensitive information from our search results. We know that many people are upset about this decision, and frankly, we understand their point of view. This wasn't an easy choice, but in the end, we believe the course of action we've chosen will prove to be the right one.

Launching a Google domain that restricts information in any way isn't a step we took lightly. For several years, we've debated whether entering the Chinese market at this point in history could be consistent with our mission and values. Our executives have spent a lot of time in recent months talking with many people, ranging from those who applaud the Chinese government for its embrace of a market economy and its lifting of 400 million people out of poverty to those who disagree with many of the Chinese government's policies, but who wish the best for China and its people. We ultimately reached our decision by asking ourselves which course would most effectively further Google's mission to organize the world's information and make it universally useful and accessible. Or, put simply: how can we provide the greatest access to information to the greatest number of people?

Filtering our search results clearly compromises our mission. Failing to offer Google search at all to a fifth of the world's population, however, does so far more severely. Whether our critics agree with our decision or not, due to the severe quality problems faced by users trying to access Google.com from within China, this is precisely the choice we believe we faced. By launching Google.cn and making a major ongoing investment in people and infrastructure within China, we intend to change that.

No, we're not going to offer some Google products, such as Gmail or Blogger, on Google.cn until we're comfortable that we can do so in a manner that respects our users' interests in the privacy of their personal communications. And yes, Chinese regulations will require us to remove some sensitive information from our search results. When we do so, we'll disclose this to users, just as we already do in those rare instances where we alter results in order to comply with local laws in France, Germany and the U.S.

Obviously, the situation in China is far different than it is in those other countries; while China has made great strides in the past decades, it remains in many ways closed. We aren't happy about what we had to do this week, and we hope that over time everyone in the world will come to enjoy full access to information. But how is that full access most likely to be achieved? We are convinced that the Internet, and its continued development through the efforts of companies like Google, will effectively contribute to openness and prosperity in the world. Our continued engagement with China is the best (perhaps only) way for Google to help bring the tremendous benefits of universal information access to all our users there.

We're in this for the long haul. In the years to come, we'll be making significant and growing investments in China. Our launch of google.cn, though filtered, is a necessary first step toward achieving a productive presence in a rapidly changing country that will be one of the world's most important and dynamic for decades to come. To some people, a hard compromise may not feel as satisfying as a withdrawal on principle, but we believe it's the best way to work toward the results we all desire.

Link

D-Link support rocks.

After a marathon 3 hour session with D-link support, I'm back ( on blogger and few other sites ). Weird as is, my access was blocked to few of the websites, I regularly visit ( blogger.com, address.yahoo.com, ndtv.com ).

The block was so selective and without a trace. Logs were clear on the router. The problem was later isolated to be at the router as I was able to access them all, when I hard-wired my cable-modem connection to my PC, directly.

Equally baffling was the 'reset' option in my D-Link router( DI-624 ), which doesn't really reset the settings unless done in a particular way( read ahead ).

Phone calls to D-Link support initially were of no use as some of the technicians tried their best even to the extent of blaming my ISP to not being able to give me the optimum MTU( Maximum Transmission Unit ) setting. My ISP was actually clueless of what was going on and just blamed it on the router.

Having tried all options, I made one more phone-call and after about 1/2 hour the technician pretty much gave up but decided to transfer me to some black hole. Not knowing to whom I was waiting for, a technician called Chistopher took over and was absolutely systematic and clear.

I was able to follow where he was going, thro' out and it was all right of his finger-tips. I then realize the odd reset procedure.

"Hold the reset button for 15seconds, after 15, remove the power-chord of the router, wait for 15 more seconds, plug back on, wait for 15 seconds, release the reset button, wait for 15 seconds, power off again and wait for 15 seconds and set up the rest" (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

After all this, everything resumed like magic. This being not the first time experience with D-Link support, really amazes, while I'm still puzzled as what could've caused that selective blockade.

Great words of hope and inspiration

"you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them

looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow

connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut,

destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down,

and it has made all the difference in my life.”

“I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away

from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still

loved what I did.”

“The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of

being a beginner again, less sure about everything.”

“You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work

as it is for your lovers.”

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way

to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the

only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't

found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the

heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship,

it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking

until you find it. Don't settle.”

“Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've

ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because

almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of

embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face

of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that

you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of

thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked.

There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of

other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions

drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the

courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow

already know what you truly want to become. Everything else

is secondary.”

“Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish”

Steve Jobs @ Stanford University

Ex tempore decisio

A conversation with a close friend brought me into this - "language" i.e. the 'usage of words'. While I try to follow that I should measure my words and not hurt anyone inadvertently, I have often ran into problems and end up being branded as 'paranoid' or 'unnecessary thinker', 'think too much', 'emotional person' and few others.

Its paradoxical, as misunderstanding is what I'm trying to avoid. What I found hard to fight could be classified into three categories

• Assumptions : People don't ask for clarification, instead assume
• Conclusions : Very closely related to 'Assumptions', but much more fatal
• Errors : Inadvertent or deliberate mistakes
  

Assumptions : To a great part I believe, they're the root of all evils. If I don't have the guts to ask for clarification, I shouldn't assume. "Never assume anything", Cosmo Kramer of Seinfeld says in an episode. Open communication clears all 'doubts'.

Conclusions : As assumptions, this is not good. If I conclude, I'm removing the option for the other person to clarify his/her position. "This is it, this is what it means and I'm right about it" is what we come across the most. Should I give the person a chance to explain and then decide what's right and what's not ? Even with that option, wouldn't putting across what I had in mind, how/why it had changed ( if it has changed ), help to mitigate the mis-understanding?

Errors : These could be serious or could be silly. What ever it is, we're talking about 'after the fact' scenario. i.e. the mistake has been done, target has been hit.

What do I do ?

• I can conclude and rule the person off
• I can assume, conclude and still rule the person off
• I can just not think about it, which is almost equivalent to #1
• I can reach the person, explain things, get his point of view and then decide

#4 is based on the simple belief that "every coin has 2 sides" and "hindsight is 20/20".

All these have an under-current "reach" i.e. reach the person, get to know the facts and then decide. The not of this, precludes all others.

Two cases in my experience stands out...
1. My friend said something and I couldn't digest it. Years of acquaintance, came to an abrupt end. An year and half passed in silence. I woke up one morning, 7AM it was. Decided in less than 20 seconds that I could've been wrong as I didn't hear him out. Wrote a mail "what ever has happened has already happened, we can't change, but we can forget or ignore them and move on". With in a day, he wrote and reached back.

2. My friend's derogatory comment about my family member, at the heights of a discussion, didn't go well with me. I just froze in time confined in a mental-block. 5 years passed. The trio broke to 2 but I realized the dangling end after 5 years, just when I was hearing about another friend's story on friendship. Realized that I can see far and beyond - wrote a mail guessing the id's out of memory. 6/7 mails bounced. But one of them reached and reached the correct person. I got a call from half way thro' the world in less than 12 hours and we spoke for 3 hours to catch up with the 5 years we had drifted away.

I can never, ever seem to agree that "you say what you want to say and dont worry about how its taken". Words uttered can't be taken back, but can be brushed aside - I believe.

Am I wrong ? Is this too much of a thing to think about ?

Solitude

"Solitude"
by: Alexander Pope

Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire;
Whose trees in summer yield shade,
In winter, fire.

Blest, who can unconcernedly find
Hours, days, and years, slide soft away
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day.

Sound sleep by night; study and ease
Together mixed; sweet recreation,
And innocence, which most does please
With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.

---

Its been a harrowing day so far. My close friend's wife had a mis-carriage 3 weeks back and I got to know only today, after they came out of their emotional-shell. It struck me at several levels, sending shock-waves, that I thought I'd throw some emotions out here.

I've known them for a long time now and for the same reason, I couldn't digest this at all. While I'm happy to hear that she is doing fine and recovering and he is back at work, trying to divert himself, a loss is a loss.

My other friend always remarks "life is beautiful". While I believe it to most part, events like these doesn't explain much about life at all. Its filled with pain, striking at its will, but always with full power.

I completely agree that a delivery to a mom is a re-birth, but on the same note, its that highest form of expectation and excitement, when tormented by these fateful happenings, I can't even articulate how they should be feeling inside.

He said, they can't even bawl out, as once when they did it, their only other kid, not knowing what's happening brought a napkin and told them not to cry.

This was too much for me to even hear it over the phone and more than me, for them to handle, I'm sure.

I could sense the he is out of tears to cry now, when he said this all, in an absolutely raw tone. His current state of sounding strong, is something I don't totally believe in - he is in survival mode. He has other responsibilities to take care now, more than he has time to grieve. I can't believe how is handling it.

God : Please bless them with mental calmness and strength, which is the need of the hour above all, for them to carry themselves into the future.

Mount Shasta

Last weekend was one of the greatest weekend, I ever had in a long time. A magical trip to Mount Shasta.

Having gone thro', so many options to do over the weekend, Mount Shasta came out as a surprising option and in the very last minute. It turned to be a wonderful call from A( Thank you! ), with sweet little surprises, all thro' the way...

As my vehicle was up for its regular medical check-up, I didn't want to risk to test its limits by going far, without servicing it. So decided to rent a car. After almost deciding to go with Hertz as always, I thought I'd check with Avis also. While Avis didn't gave me brands/models in the mid-size category, I decided to go with them.

Had to take VTA bus to go to the local dealer and got a free ride :) as the ticketing system was broken. $1.75 was spared. As I sat down in the bus, immediately I couldn't help but appreciate enough the honesty of VTA's service. They could've done many things

• Terminate the service of that particular bus
• Needn't take new passengers
• Collect money in a different way etc.

But they decided to help their customer ! On top of it, the driver thinking that I'm new to USA/California, decided to tell me of other commuting options :). Nice people. I salute you with all my respect VTA. Great customer service.

I reached the rental-car dealer. Then to my great surprise, I got Pontiac G6.

Having driven Ford's and Chevrolet, I was so curious to check out this vehicle, as I knew nothing about it, except that it has a V-6 engine. I drove out and it was like floating in a cold breeze. The suspensions were so good and car was so good to drive. Very basic but good interior gizmos were keeping me happy( I hope others too ), throughout the trip.

But none of these would justify me closing the wind-shield( power windows also ) with A's hand outside. It was very sad and I could sense the pain in her eyes. Very sorry A!

Back home, the trip was gaining lot of momentum, drawing time-lines, taking directions etc. and we decided to leave at 5:30AM. But all three of us were ready. It was raining in here and weather conditions were really bad, enroute.

I was very worried whether I should call if off as there was no point driving 300+ miles and trying to check-out a down-pour, which I can do at home itself. More than that, I was worried that having spent so much of time in planning and executing it, A should be able to enjoy it, during this short-trip.

We were about 100 miles from our destination and while rain was still pounding in few places, driving on a deserted I-5 amongst few resting birds on the freeway(!!!) was simply amazing. So was the feeling, when ripping at 80-90 mph, in this powerful car, which took all my stress test.

About 50miles from our destination, as magic, the rain had stopped and it was drizzling once in a while and after about 30miles the rain stopped !!! I just couldn't believe the dramatic weather change. It was wonderful to see the snow-fall. Perfect weather to be in such a place.

The next few hours were for the brain to capture the purest form of snow over almost anything I could see, but more particularly over the landscape and tall trees. My brain was in superb capture mode in that sub-zero temperature.

Driving on some stretch of the road, which was completely white was a thrill. Long drives on Mount Shasta Blvd/CA-89 was a gift.

I'm a kid when it comes to playing in the snow. Holding it and splashing it on others is something that I've always enjoyed. We all spent a great amount of time playing in the snow :)

After a tiring skiing session, we were slowly inching towards depression ! We have to head back :(

On our way back, in the middle of now where was a good uninhabited stretch. A rightly compared it to look like the forest in the 'The Chronicles of Narnia'. It was heavenly!!!

With all great memories, we came back and there was not a drop or rain :). What an amazing trip!

I'm doing nothing

"I'm so busy doing nothing...that the idea of doing anything - which as you know, always leads to something - cuts into the nothing and forces me to have to drop everything." -- Jerry Seinfeld

Politically correct

I'm very excited today to have gotten 2 books State of War and The Da Vinci Code

Have started to read both of them :) simultaneously, but am inclinded to wrap up State of war first, as I'd like to see how it can related to what I read in the Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward. I highly recommend Plan of attack and Bob is an gifted writer. His presentation skills are amazing.

I've had this great feeling of following the Bush's war Gulf war and now Iraq war. As I remember, during Gulf war, CNN exploded in the media world in Asia or India( I should say ) and it was so thrilling to see a real war on TV. Iraq or Saddam's army firing those strings of missiles in the dark, black sky, on the incoming figther jets and bombers.

I'd have not believed myself to be in US soil to witness a war, the most deplorable act of human kind, Iraq war or the war based on vendatta or to its core, a war based on lies.

Time and time again I've had thoughts about pouring out my auguish about this war, as I've watched countless hours of lame excuses right from the days of 9/11 till this moment. But, well to a great part I feel ashamed to been the witness of a ruthless act.

This war or the hatred is far, far from over. What has been opened is a can of worms and only time will tell as how many of them will lhave severe biological, toxic and long term effects. Those would certainly be the days after Bush and may be many of his successors( as the President of the United States ) are long gone.

Mistakes can be covered only by mistakes, I had to strongly believe after Bush's reelection. I'd leave this topic here as I've a boat load to write, but would keep this topic open.

Back to books, The Da Vinci Code interested me for couple of reasons,
1. Reviews about the book
2. Ron Howard/Tom Hanks interest to bring it to the screen.

Those two are some of the best talents of our times, in my opinion and their hard-work and dedication simply amazes me.

I can't wait to see that movie in big-screen, while I also want to experience the thrill of reading a book and watching it in full-screen. Will write back on this also.

Seattle - A memoir

As my flight back to San Jose floated over the clouds, with an aurora of white light around its wings, the background of the 'glow of Seattle/Tacoma' region slowly faded away.

But that beautiful backdrop mixed with this quick 1-1/2 day trip took my memories all the way back to 1999 winter.

Yes, I was here in Seattle. My 1st job in US! Working for Walt Disney out of Bellevue and then out of downtown. Those days were golden. Never knew the meaning of the words 'stress' ? 'tension' ?? et al.

Driving all the way to downtown Seattle in I-90 was fun. Tonight, the cab driver( from Hungary) was complaining about traffic of these days on I-90 and Hungary joining the European Union. He was also talking about migrating to USA, 30 years ago, while I was trying to queue my thoughts of my days between 1999 and 2000.

But yesterday, to start with, as I had expected, my flight to Seattle was delayed yesterday, thank you Alaska.

After I reached my hotel, I stepped to munch something. I walked thro' the streets of Seattle.

God, I missed you so much! The strong, cold breeze, the beautiful lights and amazing architecture of some of the buildings felt so much like an homecoming :). I've driven in some of these streets but still, it all felt so good.

Downtown streets reminded me of the day, I wandered around to get to Costco, to get a bag of rice :))) and getting lost and driving and driving around for hours to finally find it :))

But yesterday, to a great disgust, all I could find was a Subway and yes, all I ate was veggie delight breaking my vow that I won't have it again. But considering I was so hungry, I do have to thank Subway for working late.

Thanks to amazon, I stayed in a very comfortable room in W Hotels. CNN and other news media were trying to make it up for the west virginia mine media fiasco.

I was feeling bad to not be able to roam around downtown, as it was late and mainly that I couldn't take much photos. Had planned them all, with my original flight schedule. Thanks again Alaska.

It was a brisk morning. Nice shower setup in W Hotel he he he. and I was out on the street to get a cup of coffee. In this 'land of the starbucks'(PDF), it took me less than 15 seconds to find a nearest one. As I stood in the line to get my Cappuccino being greeting by the nice people of Seattle, those great days of team-coffee-meetings came to my mind. With Curtis( most of the time ) , Matt( sometimes ) and all those solo walk to the nearest Starbucks to get those caramel machiato or caramel frappucino ( many times as a substitute for lunch ) flashed in my mind.

I walked back and had to take a long walk to amazon but walked thro', some of the familiar structures such as the majestic Bank of America towers and Union station.

Done with my appoitment, I walked to meet my great friend Jialu Zhang. I'm meeting her after about 3 years or so. Last time was when she visted San Francisco. She has become so thin, but that electric smile greeted me well. She was so nice to me, as always.

To think more about her, she is one of a kind of an Oracle DBA that I always admired. Having done her PhD in medicine in China, her decision to get into tech ( one fine day ) and more particularly databases and going all the way to taking the OCP still sounds to me, like a fantasy story. So is her husband's work on GENOME and DNA-sequencing. Back then, it was the same reason, I recommended Walt Disney, strongly to hire, just immediately after I interviewed her. One of the most memorable interview I ever conducted. Matt did hire her and later sounded very happy about it. Glad to have had a chance to know her and to know her well, all these years.

She now works for Washington Mutual and having experimented( should actually say mastered ) so many different things( Perl course, OCP certifications, datawarehousing(!!) and many others ), it was no surprise for me to hear that she is now doing Oracle 10g with RAC on Red Hat Linux servers - way to go Lu!( as she is called ).

It was extremely sad to hear that her trip to China/Shanghai after 15 years(!!!) coincided on the same day as her grandma's last day. She sounded and looked very devasted.

We took a long walk on the downtown and we had a lot to catch up( she is one bad person when it comes to communication and keeping in touch - I didn't like that but sorry Lu :) that's true ). But I was so happy to have had a chance to meet her and boy I missed the days, we used to discuss Oracle installation thingy and break our heads in her desk on some silly Oracle problems.

We spent a good time talking and walking in the streets of downtown and as I called to check on Bobby McKenzie, my last manager in Disney. As a great coincedence, Lu and I were walking just on the foot of the majestic Smith Towers at the very moment. I loved that building and felt so proud to take that lift( opertated by service!!! - one of its great and unique tradition ). It was sad that I couldn't catch up with Bobby as he was already home, but equally sad was the fact that I didn't have my 1st US boss( Matt Estes )'s number. Should write him an email. He was a great man(ager).

Streets of downtown Seattle hasn't changed at all but it still carries the same charm that I always loved. I still remember driving to the edge of the downtown and walking to work, from the parking garage. The cold wind would just hit me in the face and more particularly freeze my spine, near the neck, rain or shine( few times a year )but nevertheless, I loved them all.

That walk with a coffee mug in hand and amongst the busy-downtown-morning-crowd always made me so happy. Now here I'm, again walking on the same streets of downtown, with one of the same gang members. It felt so great.

Years have flown by, we all have come a long way, but the downtown remained as the same observer of me and few of us, in those same streets, as it was not so long ago.

When do I get you see you again and how soon would it be ?! ( made it sound like the Apollo 13's Jim Lovell's last few words )