"it really appears that Google is going to be pushing into new spaces in the next few years...."

As someone who has had a colonoscopy done, I for one, welcome our new "pushing into new spaces" overlords.

OK, I understand the bus analogy, but I would understand your argument more (and better), if you used a car analogy, like we're used to here on Slashdot.

Anyone remember Yggdrasil? Beautiful CD with graphical installation. I think it came with a boot floppy (maybe two), and a CD. Don't remember too much about the installation, because it was about 1993/4 when I first started with this, but I can remember the first time I read "kernel panic". My brother and I, who shared my fascination with linux, sat there and laughed when we read that. After reading the thick book that accompanied the installation software, we figured out what was wrong, and started again. Finally got everything installed and running, and then we were hooked.

Thanks to all the developers along the way, who have kept this hobby interesting for me.

That settles it - I'm moving to Holland and I'm going to start paying taxes. There have to be people like me there, paying taxes to keep that great country running.