Google.com(mie) and More

Sputnik backlash: Some conservatives are irked that Google tweaked its logo last week — making the second G out of an illustration of Sputnik — to commemorate a historic aeronautical achievement by America’s Cold War nemesis 50 years ago. One blogger called the decision “a kick in the belly,” while another — assuming political and not scientific motives — suggested Google is unpatriotic: “When they ignore Veterans Day and Memorial Day, I think they’re telling us something about the way they view America.” (Full disclosure: I swiped the dot.commie gag from Stephan Colbert, who used it in his fantastic “takedown” of Media Matters.)

New Strib ombudsman! City Pages fellow and self-appointed Star Tribune ombudsman Matt Snyders admits he may not be entirely qualified to fill the Strib’s vacant post as readers representative, but, he declares, “I am a person. Granted, I have not received — let alone responded to — a single letter from a reader. Nor have I picked up a copy of the Strib in two-and-a half weeks. And yes, if you must know, when I called the newsroom earlier today to check-in, editor Nancy Barnes cheekily claimed to have never heard of me.” He awaits your letters of inquiry or complaint.

LaBonia heads west: Michael LaBonia, the Star Tribune’s senior vice president of sales and strategic development whose work computer was among those searched in the recent Par Ridder lawsuit, has started his new gig. He’s the San Francisco Chronicle’s new Senior Vice President/Advertising.

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