As Americans celebrate Columbus Day, one of our nation's largest companies, Google, is commememorating the occasion by displaying a picture of the Paddington Bear at its website.
I kid you not.
I guess the good folks at Google feel the 50th anniversary of the creation of this fictional character is more important than the 516th anniversary of Columbus landing in the Americas (via Wikipedia, h/t NBer Priebles):
Paddington Bear is a fictional character in children's literature. He first appeared on 13 October 1958 and was subsequently featured in several books, most recently in 2008, written by Michael Bond and first illustrated by Peggy Fortnum. The polite immigrant bear from Darkest Peru, with his old bush hat, battered suitcase and marmalade sandwiches has become a classic English children's literature icon.
It has been well-documented that Google conveniently ignores some of America's national holidays like Memorial Day. But commemorating Columbus Day with the Paddington Bear?
Amazing.
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Noel,Wll, yeah,
October 13, 2008 - 12:33 ET by Chris NormanNoel,
Well, yeah, Paddington Bear only wanted marmalade - he didn't "rape the Eden that was this continent (that we have no right to be on) and exterminate the peaceful and happy natives" ...
McNotObama '08
It's also Margaret
October 13, 2008 - 12:29 ET by Ken ShepherdIt's also Margaret Thatcher's b-day, which would be a nice touch for Google, but for which I'm not holding my breath.
That said, the 516th anniversary is not a nice round anniversary number like say a 50th or even the 500th.
That's Paddington who ? I
October 13, 2008 - 12:31 ET by MillerTimeWarpThat's Paddington who ? I thought it was an Obama "campaign event coordinator" after the election, looking for a real job
I would rather be a Conservative nut job, than a Liberal with no nuts and no job
Obama is closer to
October 13, 2008 - 13:03 ET by PrieblesPander Bear, than Paddington Bear.
Columbus Day is a Holiday. And I seriously doubt Google is waiting for a nice round number to create a Columbus Day logo.
Last year on Columbus Day = Luciano Pavarotti (at least he's Italian)
2006 - Nothing
2005 - Nothing
2004 - Nothing
2003 - Nothing
2002 - Nothing
2001 - Nothing
2000 - Nothing
1999 - Nothing.
Something tells me it is an intentional "Progressive Snub".
No surprise here
October 13, 2008 - 13:10 ET by Indiana JoeI mean, c'mon. Columbus has been deconstructed into a slaver who got lost and wiped out the peaceful natives in this pristine land. It's not true, but so what? Honoring such a person is just wrong in our "enlightened" society.
What I find more surprising is that this day, commemorating a white European racist is a day off for Chicago public schools, but not for my son's Catholic school, even though it's affiliated with a Knights of Columbus lodge.
Go figure.
Jesus Christ was crucified by "community organizers."
Actually...
October 13, 2008 - 14:05 ET by mvfreemanColumbus has been deconstructed into a slaver who got lost and wiped out the peaceful natives in this pristine land. It's not true, but so what?
I've come up with several sites saying that on his second voyage a large number of indians were killed and/or enslaved.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761567043/arawak.html
http://www.trivia-library.com/c/history-of-christopher-columbus-second-voyage-to-the-americas.htm
http://www.christopher-columbus.eu/voyage-2.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/127070/Christopher-Columbus#tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=Christopher%20Columbus%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01680c.htm
Not that Columbus was the first in history to do that.
Google helping with theft of the election
October 13, 2008 - 13:11 ET by smithncustomI know that this is a little off the topic of the article. I would like to comment on the way Google News sways results. If you type in "Obama ACORN" into a Google seach the articles that come up are flavored (for lack of a better term) in a way that doesn't pinpoint the news results from the larger news orgs. But, if you were to type in "Obama" only you get New York Times headlines reflecting Obama in a positive or victorious light showing pictures of a tall "powerful Obama facing down a picture of a hunkered down John McCain. I'm only using the New York Times as an example. My point is this. Even Google News (as well as their web search) is helping to hide the dirty laundry on B.H.O. Will anyone call them on this???
I hate to sound like I'm
October 13, 2008 - 13:43 ET by Lord ElicaniI hate to sound like I'm defending Google on this, but having worked a summer for an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) company, I can tell you that it's rather easy to set up how pages are ranked coming off a search engine, be it Google, Yahoo or any other. All you need is a simple HTML tag listing the search terms you want the page to show up under, maybe a web directory listing (or a few hundred), and a person or group of people who dedicate ten or so minutes to update these every so often.
My point: Blame the web designers before Google. There are ways to manipulate the system.
Heads are turning
Towards the sky
Towers crumble
Heroes die
Who would wish this on our people
And proclaim that his will be done?
Scriptures they read have misled them
All praise their sacrificed sons
All praise their sacrificed sons
- James LaBrie, Dream Theater's "Sacrificed Sons"
Wait, wait---
October 13, 2008 - 13:12 ET by misterbillWe Italians did not complain that we only got a day while Hispanics and Blacks get a whole month. Now they are trying to downplay our one day??
What's a fellow to do? I would say that this is Politically Incorrect We should all get Italian flags and march in all our major cities to protest. I feel so, so, so "minority".
BUUUUUUT wait-- let's not forget how CRUEL Columbus was to the American Indians--he was a devil. He did not show the kindness of a Cortez. Pizarro or Balboa to the natives. Why, he didn't even eradicate a whole civilization. What kind of man is that???
I guess I will just have to let my tears roll into my bowl of pasta tonight, while I and the rest of the Italo-Americans (we now qualify to be a hyphenated American group), mourn and suffer the slings and arrows of a minority group.
I have to go now. ACORN is at my door to get me to vote twice (or three times) for a member of a larger minority group.
Happy Columbis Day, misterbill
October 13, 2008 - 13:54 ET by BlondeI think I'll make some Italian Wedding Soup.
And then for my viewing pleasure (yeah, I know it wasn't Columbus)....watch Mel Gibson's Apocalypto tonite. Great flick.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Hello Misterbill
October 13, 2008 - 18:02 ET by cocodrieBring Sarah Palin with you to put lipstick on that bear. She'll show you how.
I was going to run for office---but--
October 13, 2008 - 13:14 ET by misterbillI was going to run for office---but--that would be like putting lipstick on a bear!!!!
Eh...we already get the day
October 13, 2008 - 13:54 ET by balboaEh...we already get the day off. I don't really care how Google "celebrates" today.
"Eh...we already get the day off."
October 13, 2008 - 13:57 ET by MightyMouthEh...speak for yourself Amigo, some of us have to work! :(
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Actually, I don't get the
October 13, 2008 - 14:34 ET by balboaActually, I don't get the day off, but I assumed everyone else did.
But who cares if Google wants to do this? I'm sure the legacy of Christopher Columbus will survive.
Must be nice
October 13, 2008 - 14:25 ET by mvfreemanI have yet to work at a place that closes for Columbus day.
I'd be willing to bet...
October 13, 2008 - 14:29 ET by MightyMouth...our esteemed friend works at a place that our tax dollars support. A thank you would be nice... or a Bank...errr..wait that would be same thing these days.... :-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Noel... How much you want
October 13, 2008 - 13:58 ET by Clear thinkerNoel...
How much you want to bet that most of the new age employees they have working at Google don't even know about Columbus Day?
Why Obama Scares The Crap Out Of Me
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Heh.
October 13, 2008 - 14:27 ET by mvfreemanI'm pretty sure there are a couple of calendars hanging around to remind them.
Considering how ignorant Google is
October 13, 2008 - 14:33 ET by YahooWatcherI'm surprised there isn't a promo shot of the Sopranos in their logo today.
Live Search: Now here is a
October 13, 2008 - 15:02 ET by PrieblesLive Search: Now here is a search site with some class.
See - it ain't so hard Google!
Priebles
October 13, 2008 - 15:11 ET by cocodrieThanks for the link
Thank goodness there's a
October 13, 2008 - 17:11 ET by balboaThank goodness there's a search engine out there not afraid to celebrate Columbus Day. What huge statement...
Wow! Nice!
October 13, 2008 - 19:45 ET by TN MomThanks for the link!
Infantile
October 13, 2008 - 15:13 ET by NorthCoasterGoogle is pretty infantile and dismissive. Live Search is simple but to the point and nicely done.
Most Liberals have a
October 13, 2008 - 15:14 ET by liberal_bug_zapperMost Liberals have a visceral hatred for this country the way that it is currently constituted. All modern Liberals hate liberty. They hate individuals, and love the collective. I'll bet you that the instant there is a Socialist as President, they'll celebrate these holidays on Google once again.
These people are the most partisan in this country. With them, it's always party first. Country dead last. These people are dangerous. They are dangerous because they claim to hate violence, yet they support taxes, which must be excised from the taxpayer by force and/or threat of force.
Just look at the couple who were convicted and then barricaded themselves in their home and the standoff with authorities lasted for months. I’m on the side of the couple, not the tyrannical Federal government which is guilty of using force and violence against innocent people. What I mean by innocent is that these people never used force against anyone else. The Federal government must go. It has become a Fascist State run by Socialists who will stop at nothing to take our hard earned wealth and give it to whomever they deem deserving.
____________________________________________________
"I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine." ~ Ayn Rand
Wow
October 13, 2008 - 17:50 ET by arkansaszippersYou need to get out of the house more. Sitting in front of your computer all day at conspiracy websites can't be good for your mental health; might make you a bit paranoid.
it was only one of the most
October 13, 2008 - 18:08 ET by republicoreit was only one of the most critical events in the history of western civilization...thats all...
i mean. bears are cute
I have been using alta
October 13, 2008 - 21:17 ET by dvdaughtryI have been using alta vista for my search engine.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
It Might Be More Political Than You Think...
October 13, 2008 - 22:04 ET by The7SticksLook, I'm as big a fan of Paddington Bear from my childhood as the next person, but I do have a feeling this might have more to do with the Knights of Columbus and their support on Proposition 8 in California than it does with Columbus himself. You see, it was largely the effort of the Knights of Columbus to get Columbus Day made into a nationally observed holiday (where do you think the Columbus in their name comes from? Not Columbus, Ohio, I hope because that would make you look very silly.)
Since Google is based in northern California, it's only logical that they would be supporting the anti-Prop. 8 campaign while the Knights of Columbus are supporting the pro-Prop. 8 campaign. I wouldn't hold it pass them that this whole Paddington Bear anniversary has more to do with snubbing the Knights of Columbus's efforts than it has to do with hating America. It is very intriguing, nonetheless, to see how this campaign is getting pretty ugly.