TigerHawk

TigerHawk (ti*ger*hawk): n. 1. The title of this blog and the nom de plume of its founding blogger; 2. A deep bow to the Princeton Tigers and the Iowa Hawkeyes; 3. The nickname for Iowa's Hawkeye logo. Posts include thoughts of the day on international affairs, politics, things that strike us as hilarious and personal observations. The opinions we express are our own, and not those of each other, our employers, our relatives, our dead ancestors, or unrelated people of similar ethnicity.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Google's massive carbon fart

By TigerHawk at 3/30/2008 08:46:00 AM

In yesterday's ceremonial darkening of the planet to save the planet, Google only made the problem worse:

Google today joined in the celebration of Israel's "Earth Hour" campaign by turning its background from white to black. Unfortunately, on LCD monitors sized 22 inches or less, Google's new black actually consumes more energy than its usual white one. But don't let that stop you from appreciating Google's touching tribute... (emphasis added)

If an energy company claimed it was saving the planet with a publicity stunt that actually made the situation worse, the chattering classes would erupt with derision and outrage. A hip California tech company does it, though, and the only people who notice are right-wing curmudgeons.

Of course, Google has a long history of talking without walking on the issue of climate change. One might reasonably ask why the firm should get any public relations "credit" for climate change initiatives so long as its founders fly around in a grotesquely large private jet, or why its current executives need one at all. "Black Google" is nothing less than a purposeful distraction from corporate practices that are anything but green.

Apparently, unlike "stupid," "green" is not as "green does."

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5 Comments:

By D.E. Cloutier, at Sun Mar 30, 09:49:00 AM:

Manfred Dworschak at Spiegel Online in Germany: "There's been a lot of hand-wringing lately about how much air traffic contributes to global warming. An even more damaging culprit, however, has recently been found: the Internet. Computer centers consume massive amounts of energy, and their use is growing astronomically."

Link:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,544053,00.html

By Anonymous, at Sun Mar 30, 11:05:00 AM:

Ha, has. These big corporations are the stupidest Gore-ites ever. Last night I was in Walmart and was very intrigued by Earth Day Soup. Campbell Soups has produced a limited edition of GREEN labels for its soups. All positioned on the loss-leaders sections. I mean really, how Gore-like. It used more carbon to change out the dye/printing/label printers than it was worth. Who is kidding whom? Like I am going to buy a can of chicken noodle soup because has a special label.

By Donna B., at Sun Mar 30, 12:17:00 PM:

One of the best post titles ever.

By TigerHawk, at Sun Mar 30, 12:33:00 PM:

Thanks, donna b.! I worked hard on that one.

By Anonymous, at Sun Mar 30, 03:21:00 PM:

The whole EARTH HOUR sounds like some bunch of green malarkey comming from GREENPEACE or AL GORE