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Ebay to get a gong today

Along with Lockheed and others
Mon Sep 29 2008, 12:00

ONLINE COMMERCE pioneer Ebay will be handed the US National Medal of Technology and Innovation at a White House ceremony today, along with Lockheed and six individuals.

The Internet auction and retail sales giant that grew out of Meg Whitman's Pez-dispenser trading website will be lauded by the US Department of Commerce for "pioneering the technology that encouraged and supported online trade, enabling global entrepreneurship and the growth of the Internet worldwide."

Lockheed-Martin's Skunk Works operation that has long designed and built experimental aircraft for the US military and space programme is this year's other corporate honoree.

Six private individuals will also be honored including Paul Baran, the inventor of packet switching; Dave Cutler, a chief architect of Microsoft Windows NT, and Grant Wilson, an inventor of electronic microchip lithography materials and techniques.

Ebay is the first Internet company to receive the country's technology and innovation gong. µ

L'Inq
Network World

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Comments
It's nearly election time and the politicians want some money, so they hand out some badges

for ebay etc to stick on their shirt lapels.

While the meal is going on and the drinks are flowing, the politicians and their mates are cozying up the money guys and asking how they can help scratch each other's backs.

All those Republican's will soon be out of work and probably fancy an easy job on the board of an IT company.

posted by : interested_party, 01 October 2008 Complain about this comment
Gong???

I am always amazed how Brit writers love to abuse their language.

To receive a 'Gong' is to be castigated, not rewarded.

The writer is too young or inexperienced to be aware of the Gong Show where contestants were given a fixed amount of time to entertain or even placate a team of judges. The gong was employed to indicate a failed act.

So as we can clearly see, eBay did receive a gontg at all, rather it received some sort of reward for services rendered.

Brits!

CD Baric
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

posted by : CD Baric, 30 September 2008 Complain about this comment
Founder flounder?

Pierre Omidyar was the founder of eBay, not Meg Whitman.. although the Pez dispenser site reference is correct.

posted by : AgentSTS, 29 September 2008 Complain about this comment
Yes v3rsus

That is the corporate way. Scamming is rewarded in this country if you make big bucks that is. Ask any congressman (or their bank account). Don't you watch the news :p

posted by : Vinster, 29 September 2008 Complain about this comment
Um?

Yeah they deserve this for what? for ripping people off? Or for treating ebay sellers like dirt at the request of idiotic buyers/scammers/etc?

posted by : v3rsus, 29 September 2008 Complain about this comment
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