If you’re a regular user of the search engine Google, you’re probably familiar with Google’s doodles. Normally, a doodle is a picture you draw or something you write when you’re not really paying attention, maybe while you’re bored in a class or a meeting, or talking to someone on the phone. Google’s doodles are a little different. They are creative versions of the Google logo (word and/or picture that represents a company).
The doodles began when the founders of Google, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, left the office in Northern California to attend the Burning Man festival in the state of Nevada. (The Burning Man festival is one of the topics of this week’s English Cafe 305). Before they left, they put up on the website a version of the Google logo with the symbol (picture representing something) of the festival behind it, with a note that said “Be back later.” From that point on, someone going to the Google homepage on a holiday or a noteworthy (worth remembering) date might find a special version of the Google logo made for just that occasion. Last year, Google produced 271 doodles, often commemorating (remembering and showing respect for) the birthdays of important people, inventions (new things someone has created), movies, children’s shows, and of course, holidays.
Until recently, I didn’t know that many of the doodles were localized, intended just for a particular country or region. Take a look at past doodles and you’ll see doodles created for many occasions and for many events and countries. Some of them are quite amazingly creative (using original ideas; using the imagination), like the Pac-Man and Tetris doodles honoring the old video games that actually allowed you play. If you like this type of creative design work, perhaps you could aspire to (wish for; hope one day to get) a job at Google. There is now an entire branch (section; department) at the company with several full-time designers and engineers who create new doodles.
Looking at doodles past and present, do you have any favorites?
~ Lucy
Graphic Credit: “Pacman10-hp.png” from Wikipedia
Thanks Lucy, it’s a very interesting topic. I like Google Doodles, their team is really creative just like your PODCAST team, my favorites are Les Paul’s 96th birthday
and Charlie Chaplin’s 122nd birthday.
Thanks a lot, take good care, Dr. Lucy and Dr. Jeff
Hugo
‘Looking at doodles past and present, do you have any favorites?’
I think the one that got stuck in my mind is the doodle with the dancing woman (Martha Graham/ May 11, 2011).
Skimming through the pages I realized that I haven’t ever seen most of the doodles before.
As always, thank you for this interesting article Lucy!
Thank you so much, Lucy, for bringing up this topic of ‘Google Doodles’ to us.
I have noticed the attractive pictures when I opened the Google’s search engine, but I did not know they were called Google Doodles until now.
I always like to guess what the pictures mean when I open the google’s Hong Kong search engine. It is a very good exercise to test how much we know about Chinese history, cultures and traditions.
Thank you again, Lucy, you have provided us a very good method to improve our English as well as keeping update with new things in this fast moving world.
Oh, yes, I would like to thank you, Lucy, and Jeff, and everyone in the ESLPOD.com in giving us one more ‘Seriously Funny’ 6th Anniversary Video.
I meant to write to congratulate you all much earlier, but my computer failed and I could not write for a few weeks. Now I have got a new computer (new to me, but not exactly new because it was used before by other people previously) and hopefully can continue learning and improving my English.
The word ‘improving’ is very important to me. I do not want to just ‘learn’, I want to ‘improve’.
Hi Lucy,
You always do things in style
Nice images
I did not know squat about google doodling up until now that you explained it all. You are detail-oriented ,don’t you?
You always explain every nook and carnny of the topic at hands.
Nothing is left hanging :))))))
Nice topic
Thank Eslpod , another appendage to my miscellaneous local archive:))) that I go back to them at the time of need 🙂
Thanks to you Lucy
Very informative indeed
Betty,
I was wondering where you had been hiding
Nice to have you back Sis
You are the inspiration on this blog
Indeed,you are a motivational writer.
Keep up the good job
Hi Peter, thanks for mentioning me, and thanks for the encouragement. I will keep writing when I can. It is nice to be able to take part in this blog, a place to practice writing English.
I wonder how is Tania, she has not been writing for a while.
Peter it is interesting for me to read your comments, always practical, and make me think about the topics further.
Do you ever take a break for Summer Holiday? I might like to ask you the same question which you said Jeff asked you after reading all your comments – Peter, when is your first book coming out?
You have writing style to write a book, that’s for sure.
I didn’t know they call it ‘doodle’ until today. What’s interesting is that it all started from a small idea. They were really fresh at that time.. But now? I don’t know..
Anyway, thank you always for wonderful writings Lucy.
-EL
Morning,
Oh,
Thank God,
Jeff, seems like you are not sour for my comment.
You are being a good sport Jeff ,and it is the trait of a critical thinker that you are.
You always make it worth my while everytime I swing by to check Eslpod
Thanks for the kind words Betty,
I went camping for a couple of days with a bunch of nimrods like myself
We did zip-lining .we went canoeing and rock climbing as well.Tge rock climbing was too extreme ,I m telling you. Actually, it was more of climbing down than up. There is this wild steep piece of rock located in Georgian bay. The rock leads down to a wild, secluded, intact grotto( an under ground chamber mostly by a body of water ). Our plan was to climb down the rock to spend one night in th Grotto by the Gergiam Bay.
It was quite an advanter
We were all geared up like professional rock climbers
The rock was almost seamless, no foodhold or anything so you can make your position secure on the wet, steepy rock .what had made the matter worst was the constant crash of tall ,powerful waves against the rock. The wild waves had made the rock even more slippery. Right under neat the rock in the water were a bounch of picturesque, mold-covered reefs taunting us the dare. Literally,all the pointy parts of the reefs stuck up out of water.
Despise all the danger surrounding us ,we managed to step in the grotto all in one piece.
We spent the night there swimming , taking pictures ,making campfire and so on
In the end, We all passed out and slept soundly through the night as the sound of water come crashing against the very edge of the grotto was the sweetest lullaby to every each one of us.
Sorry palls,
I know I hogged the page
But,it is me ,always a big enthusiast of the blog at Eslpod at large.
Don’t take it away from me
It is my only luxury
This language has become an inherent part of me
I live to hone my English skills,if any
I know,it is too ambitious if I have set a goal of becoming: Jeff the second. But,I for one believe ,it is worth exhaust myself trying.
Peace out
Enough about Jeff,:)))
Dear Lucy,
From the button of my heart ,your scholary posts always amaze me
A huge groupie of yours:)
Peter
Nice to see you again Betty, we were missing you a lot.
You know we like very much to read your posts here
and it is nice to know you have a “new” computer.
All my best.
emiliano
Hi Emiliano, thank you so much for your kind words, I am lost for words.
I am very happy to have my new computer which is a very small LG laptop computer – LG X120.
My old computer was still usable but it was extremely slow and kept shut down itself, totally unreliable.
I am very grateful that my husband ‘donated’ this LG computer to me. LG is ‘Life is Good’; I do hope that Life is Good from now on.
I am very happy to be in my own house in England again. Lots of cleaning to do, but very relaxing because it is very quiet here. I did not like to watch the TV in Hong Kong, Cantonese Chinese is too noisy, but my favorite programs like gardening etc in England are very pleasant to watch.
I hope you are enjoying the summer weather in Spain. English people always complain about the bad weather in England, they have to go to Hong Kong to feel how hot and humid it is in some other parts of the world to appreciate the English weather.
I remember you mentioned your daughter and her son were going to California this summer holiday. Have they been? Did they like it? I went there 10 years ago and I loved every minute of it. I am glad to have done the travelling when I could. Life is something very special, not many people can remain healthy and active for a very long time after retirement, so it is better not to keep promising ourselves all the travelling after we retire, do it whenever we can.
All the best wishes to you and Cuca.
Betty
I think your are having a good time in England Betty, sharing with your family the places you like so much.
Yes, Fatima is going to California at the end of this month.
She is going with a friend or may be something more than a friend, who knows?
A fly from Madrid to San Francisco, that is incredible and I hope she is going to have a really
good time too, that is for sure.
We would like also to go with her, but it is not possible for the moment.
Laura, the youngest, is going to Copenhagen at the end of August to work at the University
along three years.
A new life far away from Madrid or Spain?
It is possible, future is ahead in the North of Europe and she likes very much to have a new
different job from the one she has till now in TVE.
——-
Have a good time Betty and for all of you blog friends a very nice holidays.
emiliano
Thank you very much Emiliano, I am very happy to be back to England because in the gardens of this house I have everything I grew myself. They were baby trees when I bought them, now they are tall and healthy, very beautiful.
I came back myself because my daughters need to stay in Hong Kong to prepare for some very important exams. My son works in England, so I can see him, as well as enjoy some peace and quiet myself. I do need a break from all the stressful life in Hong Kong.
I was the only Chinese walking in town this morning. The children always stare at foreigners because they do not see many in this small town.
Copenhagen is the Capital and largest city of Denmark. Emiliano you and Cuca must miss your three daughters very much. My two daughters are still young and living at home, but I think it will be hard for me and my husband when they fly the nest one day.
Very interested topic! Thank you very much, eslpod team!