California campaign disclosures show that Google, Inc. - which is under fire from privacy advocates and government regulators - made what appears to be the first political contributions to elected officials in the company’s history.

The $77,800 in contributions includes $25,000 to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and $3,400, near the maximum contribution allowed, to both the Republican and Democratic leaders of the California Assembly.

A search of state records in California and federal reporting by the Center for Responsive Politics shows no prior Google Inc. political contributions. The nonpartisan group Consumer Watchdog said Google s engagement with political contributions signals a troubling shift in the company s direction.

Google’s purpose has clearly grown beyond creating the best search engine to protecting and expanding a highly profitable business model, said Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court.

It s hard for a company to maintain its motto “Do No Evil” when the currency it brings to politics is not just information and analysis, but also the root of all evil, cash for politicians.

Records show the contributions were made in late October after Consumer Watchdog had written Google about serious privacy concerns with the company s products and intervened at the Justice Department to stop Google’s proposed advertising alliance with Yahoo. Also Consumer Watchdog created a popular YouTube video showing how your computer could be having an unnoticed conversation about you with Google s servers.

Citizens have sent more than 23,000 e-mails and faxes to Google s Board of Directors, from the Consumer Watchdog action page, calling on the company to improve its privacy standards. For a detailed list of Google s recent donations visit the California Secretary of State s website: http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1278416&view=late2

The agile 378-foot USS Freedom — a survivable, semi-planing steel monohull — will help the Navy defeat growing littoral, or close-to-shore, threats and provide access and dominance in coastal water battlespace.

Displacing approximately 3,000 metric tons and reaching speeds well over 40 knots, USS Freedom is a fast, maneuverable and networked surface combatant with operational flexibility to execute focused missions such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and the potential for a wide range of additional missions including maritime interdiction and humanitarian/disaster relief.

“We are proud and excited to show the world this amazing ship,” said LCS Commanding Officer Cmdr. Don Gabrielson. “LCS is here and it changes the game. Freedom has more in common with an aviation squadron than a surface ship, and her sailors will blow you away with their ability to innovate.”

Panasonic Corp said it would acquire smaller rival Sanyo Electric Co, creating Japan’s top electronics maker and foreshadowing further consolidation in an industry hit by slowing consumer demand.

The acquisition, which one analyst estimated could cost about $8.8 billion, would fortify Panasonic’s competitiveness in rechargeable batteries and solar power equipment as demand grows for greener energy sources.

Panasonic would at the same time become the world’s second-largest conglomerate with a major electronics division, behind General Electric and surpassing Hitachi Ltd as the biggest electronics maker in Japan.

Imagine a bicycle seat connected by mechanical frames to a pair of shoes for an idea of how the new wearable assisted-walking gadget from Honda works.

The experimental device, unveiled Friday, is designed to support bodyweight, reduce stress on the knees and help people get up steps and stay in crouching positions.

Honda envisions the device being used by workers at auto or other factories. It showed a video of Honda employees wearing the device and bending to peer underneath vehicles on an assembly line.

Engineer Jun Ashihara also said the machine is useful for people standing in long lines and for people who run around to make deliveries.

“This should be as easy to use as a bicycle,” Ashihara said at Honda’s Tokyo headquarters. “It reduces stress, and you should feel less tired.”

To wear it, you put the seat between your legs, put on the shoes and push the on button. Then just start walking around.