I was asking last week whether it was something wrong with Google that its veterans just defect to join other start-ups or some other projects, or it was just about the end of the line as a career to be working at the Mountain View based company, without higher peaks to reach for, no will and desire to outdo themselves because they knew that they've already reached the pinnacle.

The Friday story was that of Kevin Fox, a UI designer that worked on Google's Gmail, Calendar and Reader. A big loss, if you ask me, he's had the info and the experience and he is now going to an unnamed startup just for the kicks of it. Today's story (actually stories, one has been added since I began writing this) is that of Nathan Stoll, the Product Manager of the Google News service, who wrote on his personal blog that he has effectively left Google, after announcing it about three weeks ago.

"I've decided that it is time for me to move on from Google, and have resigned effective at the end of 2007. I made this decision after very careful consideration, checking my logic with many mentors and overcoming my sadness at leaving so many friends. I leave with an enormous amount of fondness and gratitude, and wish everyone the very best", is what he says.

The second story is that of David Hirsch, an eight-year Google sales veteran that was involved big time with the company's New York office. His destination? Not mentioned, but he says that he will probably invest in and advise web startups and focus on "helping incubate and accelerate the early stage game."

Of course, they are just an insignificant part of the 16,000 employees, but note their positions and their role in the Google history. Big ones, as you might have noticed.