Google deletes digital library

[Kire]

Google deletes digital library

Just weeks after announcing ambitious plans to digitize millions of books from five major libraries, Google burns down its electronic Alexandria before even really starting it.

The problem isn't the anticipated copyright headaches. It's the readers -- or lack thereof.

"When news of our plans broke, we were flooded with e-mails from college students begging us to make more term papers available, not books," says a Google executive who asked not to be named. "The kids told us that they have plenty of access to books on paper that they don't read. What they really need is someone to do the reading, thinking and writing for them."

Convinced that absolutely no one wants to read most of the tomes they'd just begun digitizing, Google decides to divert the tens of millions designated for the book project into hiring underemployed Ph.D.'s to build up the world's biggest virtual term-paper library.

More: http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2005/01/03/predictions2005/index.html

[trotsky]

1. Hello, dumbshit students!

Do ya think that maybe, just maybe, Google will build into that service something for your professors so they can plug in YOUR term paper and see how badly it was plagiarized from others?

[rkc3]

2. When these dumbasses get out of college with their 2.2 GPAs

they'll wonder why they're working at McD's and not on the Apprentice.

[DS1]

5. employers actually look at GPAs?

news to me

[KurtNYC]

3. I want to post bogus term papers

so these brain-lazy kids can turn in some fine thinking like this:

"Piaget created the scientific method by measuring the amount of saliva generated by 6 bull mastiffs when they were exposed to dog food commercials..."

"The Great Gatsby is Fitzgerald's novel about the Canadian hockey star who began his career in Indianapolis before the team was sold to Edmonton..."

"The title of 'Huckleberry Finn' refers to the rudder on the boat which Ahab uses to hunt the elusive white whale. After being branded with a "A" and being accused of witchcraft, Ahab takes to the ocean in his whale hunting steamboat..."

[chenGOD]

10. Lol....

"The Great Gatsby is Fitzgerald's novel about the Canadian hockey star who began his career in Indianapolis before the team was sold to Edmonton..."

That cracked me up.

PS Gretzky was a really nice guy when he was in Edmonton....

[Toucano]

4. This isn't LBN

It's satire involving businewss predictions for 2005.

[trotsky]

D'OH!

Well, count me snookered. Still pretty sad that it sounds real enough to be taken seriously!

[rodeodance]

12. I think this IS LBN!! In some sence it is not surprizing-goggle going

where the money is!!!

[Toucano]

13. But it isn't happening.

It's missing the "N" part, as in -- this ain't news, but a joke. ;)

[Toucano]

14. No biggie.

That's what Salon gets for being TOO subtle! LOL! :)

[Ruby Romaine]

6. please post in DU Lounge

[Endangered Specie]

7. I should get extra credit for writing my OWN

DAMN papers!!!

Tomorrow's generation had better hope I don't become a professor :evilgrin:

[shadowknows69]

8. need to read a little deeper than the headlines folks this is a hoax

[rodeodance]

9. sad case of affairs when students do not the curiosity of reading/thinking

[annerevere]

11. Do us all a favor and post this someplace else

It's not LBN and it's not funny.

[Moderator]

15. Not LBN

This is "business predictions" for 2005....not real news