Google bit barge ordered to set sail for safe waters The San Francisco member of Google's mystery barge fleet has sailed into stormy waters, with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (SFBCDC) ordering the ad giant to find a new dock for the craft. At issue, says Associated Press, is zoning for the dock where Google shipwrights are working on the bit …
It seemed pretty blatant that Google were using it as a floating building to get around all the planning laws that apply if they put it on land - and unfortunately for them, I think a little Vulture said previously there's a specific law against exactly that: the wet bit's there for boats, not for buildings that aren't allowed on the land next to it.
As I recall, on land Google would have had to file architect's plans and much more detail about what the building is for - which seemed quite reasonable to me (is it a shop? factory? office? datacentre?) but didn't suit Google's "total privacy for us, none for you" agenda. They do seem to be taking that secrecy to ridiculous lengths, though: why not just admit it's their answer to the Apple Store? (Or a test bed for Glass, or whatever.)
While everyone rages at Google for being evil here, may I slip this conveniently overlooked little detail onto the table:
Google didn't *actually* do anything wrong here. They properly applied for, and were granted, the right permits.
However, the authorities they got them from, didn't get *their* permits from the authority above *them*. Note how the news articles carefully avoid saying Google was actually at fault.
Now look at the resulting Googlehatefest. Cool trick huh? Good thing you didn't fall for it isn't it! Imagine what could be done if you could manipulate public hatred that easily! :-)
> If you've got sources...
You mean the AP link in this very article? I've shown you mine, now you show me yours ;-)
> (or tickets for Googlehatefest, it sounds awesome!)
Just follow the fires in San Fransisco next year. (Don't travel by bus).
Free Love is like, so over. Free Hate is where it's at, dude. It'll be like Burning Man, with actual burning men!
First they slap a fee on for stopping the buses taking workers to the Chocolate Factory for having the nerve to stop at public bus stops.
Then they are telling the Google Barge, 'get out of town'. Well, it does look as bad as the ugly duckling so that line from the song seems appropriate.
What is next in the war between the two?
Maybe Google will learn that is can't just do anythig it wants, without following existing laws and rules.
From the outside, they seem to have the attitude of we'll do what we want, until somebody complains, regardless of whether it is legal or not.
It seems that the engineers think something is a good idea and go ahead in engineering mode, "because we can," without doing any fact checking.
What is next in the war between the two?
Maybe the handouts were not big enough? I'm not suggesting bribery here (or bribery gone wrong), but it does have a bit of a petty, personal feel to it. I certainly appreciate Google being asked to stick to the law, but in this case it wasn't Google - I find it weird that permits were issued that don't seem to stack up.
Or, convert a small ship. Once the proof of concept proved viable, they could rescale the vessel once shpwcasing a success for local communities. They probably could have had the red carpet rolled out for them.
We poor people, though, to get funding, have to go guerilla financing if we lack creditworthiness or do not want to be hijacked by greedsters.
If they created a floating power barge that had data processing capabilities.....
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