“Since I’ve started working at home I don’t get out to see
people much, so an invitation to lunch at Google is always welcome.
I know quite a few people there, as Google has sucked up much of
the free-floating talent in the valley, and that includes many
ex-colleagues from places like VA Linux and Silicon Graphics (SGI).
Going to lunch at Google is always a strange experience for me, as
the center of the Google campus is one of SGI’s old buildings at
Shoreline in Mountain View. As I walk across the courtyard I see
the ghosts of old Friday afternoon SGI beer and barbecue parties
where Google’s volleyball court now stands. There are five
on-campus restaurants each with its own five-star chef. The food of
course is free.“No one could accuse Google of being parsimonious with their
employees…”