I spent a fun afternoon today at the Google offices in Santa Monica, giving a talk to people who wanted to know all about Jack Kirby. It was video-conferenced to other Google offices and will be a YouTube video in the next week or two. When it is, I'll point you to it in case you'd like to see me babble for an hour and knock over the microphone stand.
The visit was fascinating. I'd heard what a great place Google is to work so it was nice to see it. If I had a big company, I'd run it like that. The offices are friendly and fun, with plenty of leisure activities (videogames, pool table, etc.) and free snacks and beverages around for the employees. Lunch in the cafeteria is free and the food, at least today, was excellent. I thought of a half-dozen places I've worked and wished I could have shown the boss around the Google offices and reminded him that no company founded in the last few decades has been more successful.
Also fascinating was a display in the lobby…a screen that shows search terms people were inputting into Google. It didn't show who was typing those searches into the little box but it did show what they were searching for. I saw two searches for info on people I know — one for The Pendragons (the great illusionists) and one search for Tress MacNeille, a fine voiceover actress who I directed in a session just last week. I also saw a number of searches that indicate that a lot of people don't spell so well…and quite a few that consisted of the name of a female celebrity (or in one case, "Mini Me") and the word "nude."
In addition to the good feelings, I came home with a goodie bag that they give to visitors. Not to brag but I am now the proud owner of a Google yo-yo. I haven't thought of a joke about it yet but I have a feeling there is one.