Very interesting article on the NY Times today with regards to Google’s content access policies and procedures "Google’s Gatekeepers" :

The most powerful and protean of these Internet gatekeepers is, of course, Google. With control of 63 percent of the world’s Internet searches, as well as ownership of YouTube, Google has enormous influence over who can find an audience on the Web around the world. As an acknowledgment of its power, Google has given Nicole Wong a central role in the company’s decision-making process about what controversial user-generated content goes down or stays up on YouTube and other applications owned by Google, including Blogger, the blog site; Picasa, the photo-sharing site; and Orkut, the social networking site. Wong and her colleagues also oversee Google’s search engine: they decide what controversial material does and doesn’t appear on the local search engines that Google maintains in many countries in the world, as well as on Google.com. As a result, Wong and her colleagues arguably have more influence over the contours of online expression than anyone else on the planet.

An insight and statement to Google’s content restriction ethos – "Google refused, arguing that one nation’s government shouldn’t be able to set the limits of speech for Internet users worldwide." :

Wong decided that Google, by using a technique called I.P. blocking, would prevent access to videos that clearly violated Turkish law, but only in Turkey. For a time, her solution seemed to satisfy the Turkish judges, who restored YouTube access. But last June, as part of a campaign against threats to symbols of Turkish secularism, a Turkish prosecutor made a sweeping demand: that Google block access to the offending videos throughout the world, to protect the rights and sensitivities of Turks living outside the country. Google refused, arguing that one nation’s government shouldn’t be able to set the limits of speech for Internet users worldwide. Unmoved, the Turkish government today continues to block access to YouTube in Turkey.

I’m just surprised that this core team of three can handle so much – they are really capable people. Back when I was with a print paper, the editors had a hard time vetting through just news for the region. Google, on the other hand, handles content for the world.

Tried out the new build of Google Chrome today… darn that thing is fast, but I just cannot live without my FF extensions.

So in my quest to make Firefox 3.0 a better browser (oh 3.1, when are you coming out?), here are some tweaks that seems to provide a perceptive improvement in my browsing experience.

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LIFE was one of the world’s few magazines with a heavy emphasis on photojournalism.

However, it ceased publications last year, citing changing demographics, lack of interest, and the Internet as the reasons… and it is now reborn thanks to Google.

LIFE goes on.

It is really first-rate photographic work up there, and a personal favorite would be on the Vietnam War (under Events).

It seems like Google is really delivering the goods today, wonder what else they are going to release.

EDIT : If you liked the photos in the Vietnam War series, I recommend you a photojourn book, which is astounding in depth and quality.

Also, check out Magnum Photos.

It’s official, I’m soooo in love with Google right now.

To some people, it could be a frivolous reason to get all excited about – the big G has just enabled themes on the Gmail service!

My fav Gmail theme currently - check out that totally retro logo.

For those who are still on Yahoo, or -shudders- Hotmail, you might want to consider migrating to Gmail. It’s hands down the BEST WEBMAIL SERVICE on the planet right now.

Now, dear Google, since you’ve given us themes on Gmail, how about doing that for Google Reader too? I promise I won’t ask for anything else this Xmas, pretty please?

Chanced upon a website called Turn Your Name Into A Face (yes, that long!), and had a good 15 minutes of fun with it.

"stupid jerk" - a machoistic guy... wearing a COW on his head?

I took all my online monikers, and my name, and this is what I got.

"Kelvin Tan" - why are my eyes at my nose level?

"kelvinty" - a cross between the Joker and Marilyn Manson

"Scoopdreams" - HEEEY!! Not all aspiring journalists are balding k?