What a letdown.
 Google has opened a new Data Center in Goose Creek and had an “non-open house” yesterday afternoon. I was stoked to drive up there hoping to see the latest in high tech facilities, ie racks and racks of servers silently blinking and digesting data. I’ll admit it, I geek out on that kind stuff. Because I like to see how things work, no matter how banal it may seem to other eyes.
The problem was, they didn’t let anybody inside. No photos, not even a peek. I asked at least five different people who were connected to that kind of access in some way and was politely told ‘no’, followed by a Google smile.
The Google smile is a happy go lucky California kind of vibe that cloaks a complete distance from the rest of the world. It says “I can’t tell you anything about what I do or see and my stock is vesting soon. Enjoy the festivities.” It seems taken directly from that Star Trek episode where everyone gets “absorbed”, “Are you of the body? Peace and tranquility to you.”
Most Google folks I talked to seem to have been well trained in a kind of glossy Clintonease in which they got to talk a lot without actually saying anything. Here is a sample:
Can I get inside to take some photos?
It’s a proprietary site, you know, our secret sauce.
So I can I go in?
There’s not much to see. We have to protect the privacy of the people who work here.
How many people work here?
I can’t discuss that.
Ok, how many people did you hire locally?
We did hire people here.
How many?
I can’t disclose that.
And on and on and on…here’s the photos:
 
Governor Mark Sanford discussing regional technology initiatives with Marcie the Balloon Faerie
 
Hwy 52 has a new neighbor
You thought liquid cooled processors were cool? The entire BUILDING is liquid cooled.
These backup generators could probably power the whole county.
I can’t answer any questions, but let me know if you need anything. Have a nice time.
 Google engineers(?) unsuccessfully try to fix Rock Band 2.
Googley Treats
Geoff Marshall from the thedigitel.com interviews CP scenester Svetlana Minx while Heather Solos from lowcountrybloggers.com looks on. Very meta.
