Facebook HQ: Eerie night photos of social networking base show a darker side

By
Lee Moran

Last updated at 11:29 AM on 26th July 2011

It could be straight out of a James Bond movie.

With its laser defence systems, industrial style corridors and exposed aluminium air pipes, Dr No would seem perfectly at home as he plotted his route to world domination.

But while this eerie establishment is indeed in the midst of grabbing a grip on global affairs, its not with its military might – it is, instead, as the new California HQ of social networking site Facebook.

Futuristic: ‘The turnstiles use lasers to detect if you walked through without badging in. Lasers!’ posted Aaron Sittig on his Facebook group

Strange: ‘Standard seating. Not sure why all the desks have recycling bins rather than trash cans,’ he said on his photography

These spooky snaps of its new 57-acre Menlo Park campus at night are in stark contrast to the shots, released in February, showing spacious, brightly coloured offices bathed in Silicon Valley sunlight.

The latest set of pictures, uploaded by designer Aaron Sittig and obtained by the TechCrunch website, show Facebook’s darker side – and it is not just because they were taken after hours.

Alongside the turnstiles that use
lasers to tell if visitors are not badged up and the factory-style floor
lines, the campus’ Building 10 also has purple-glazed windows and
chalkboard paint.

Instead
of a coffee table, designers will have to use upturned wooden boxes,
with some people actually facing walls as they work.

Back to the future: ‘In the IT help zone’ looks more like a pensioner’s living room

Hidden: A little nook where designers can meet up to talk shop

Industrial: The lines on the ground are supposed to recall factory floor markings

Upstairs, downstairs: There is a distinct lack of decoration on the walls

Exposed: The aluminium air pipes make the offices seem like a manufacturing warehouse rather than the HQ of the world’s biggest social networking site

Innovative: This is the screen for a new conference reservation system

There’s even a rusty iron girder with spray paint running through one of the boardrooms and wires dangling between the rafters.

The
photos have attracted criticism from online commentators who have
ridiculed the minimalistic setup in comparison to the sprawling couches
and soft furnishings its competitor Google has become known for.

Defamer Australia website said about the laser turnstiles: ‘Another Facebooker responded that they look like something out of Gataca. Right, except the evil corporations in Gataca only pried into your DNA.’

And on the sparse hallways it added: ‘Long hallways are a ‘Facebook tradition,’ according to the caption on this one. A creepy tradition! Sort of like reading people’s private data.’

Protection: Metal fences surround the offices

Although the building has the capacity to house 9,000 employees, Facebook is currently believed to only have around 2,000 staff.

But according to reports it has already started buying neighbouring buildings as it plans to expand even more in the coming years.

Facebook is predicted to see revenue
of between 1.2 billion dollars and two billion dollars this year.If it
goes public next year its value could be astronomical and dwarf the
$8.3bn LinkedIn was valued at in May.

Facebook bought the site from Sun Microsystems which moved out earlier this year after the firm was bought by Oracle.

Orange and yellow: The Facebook at night photos are in stark contrast to these colourful ones released in February

Office: A meeting room behind open windows has a whiteboard and a monitor on the wall, along with carpet tiles on the floor

Bare: This picture of what appears to be a relaxation room features a cold concrete floor and stools scattered around the room

Simple: A whiteboard in one of the open-plan rooms is next to two upturned boxes used as stools or tables and an odd crystal-shaped light hanging from the ceiling

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Tips to create and preserve back to school memories

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(ARA) – It’s back to school time again, which means new teachers, new classrooms and new routines. As the long summer days are coming to an end, fall schedules start and families get back into the swing of the school year. To help kids make the transition, it’s important to create a healthy balance of school duties and family time, while maintaining the summer energy and fun.

Here are some tips to help your family create and preserve cherished memories during this back to school season.

Digitally preserve school memories

School artwork, important documents and first day photos are special reminders of your child’s time spent in school. Keeping physical copies of these items can be cumbersome, with fragile pieces of artwork often ending up damaged or lost.

* Skip storing items in a dusty basement box and create a digital scrapbook the whole family can enjoy.

* Preserve special memories by taking photos of your kids’ artwork and uploading the images to a CD or flash drive with other important documents and photos.

* Create digital scrapbooks or online photo albums, a fun activity that makes these items easily accessible for out-of-town family.

* Involve the whole family to inspire imagination and create lasting memories.

Create musical moments

Master morning chores, homework assignments and after-school errands with the help of family-friendly playlists.

* Create an upbeat playlist to help get kids through the morning routine of brushing teeth, eating breakfast and getting out the door.

* Lullabies and classical music have been known to help people absorb more information and de-stress.

* Use music to support after-school study sessions and keep kids on task.

* Make car time fun by letting your kids pick the playlist.

* Let them include some favorite sing-along tunes to help travel time fly by.

Schedule time for family

It’s easy for family moments to get lost in the shuffle of everyday routines. Just as you would schedule a practice or work meeting, consider scheduling regular family time.

* Choose any type of game (video, board, sports) that is team-oriented to bring the family together.

* Turn daily chores into family fun by hosting a cooking competition or a high-speed room cleaning contest.

* Taking time to be together will improve communication, build a solid support system at home and create more meaningful family time.

Memorex offers a full line of products that help families create and preserve lasting memories. The Memorex Signature Audio Series offers six stylish iPod and iPhone compatible audio products to help families groove together at home or on the go. The Memorex line of video game accessories will reinvent your family game night with Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PlayStation 3 compatible accessories.

For more information, visit the Memorex Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/MemorexFans or Memorex.com.

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