SiliconBeat

Over the weekend at home, my wife received just about the last thing I ever expected to get from Google: A coupon in the mail. I’ve posted photos of it above. The envelope also contained a helpful brochure explaining how Google AdWords works. Pictures of that are also above.

We were both surprised and amused. Google using snail mail to send me a discount? Huh?

Here’s a couple thoughts on why I find this so odd. And I’ve submitted questions about the offer to the Google press office and will include any response I get here. Read the rest of this entry »

Symyx Technologies of Santa Clara has paid bonuses to five senior executives despite the fact that targets under the company’s performance plan for the year were not met. Nevertheless, the board’s compensation committee “determined it was appropriate to provide a discretionary bonus to recognize performance by individuals,” according to a filing the company made today with the SEC.

The discretionary bonus payments come after the company began a 15 percent reduction in force in December.

Among those getting bonus cash were Read the rest of this entry »