Originally, Google planned to select 100 finalists to choose from... the people who actually submitted their ideas. Now, with just 16 broad categories, its like the project has lost some of its impact. While Google always said they would ultimately choose the organization best fit to handle the ideas that won, I was looking forward to seeing all of the neat ideas that others put forth, as well as the potential of small-scale/individual projects being launched to a whole new level.

Of course, my opinion is probably biased due to not seeing my idea - The Global Voting System - as one of the finalists.

In the end, it is still nice to see powerful corporations pursuing philanthropic endeavors.

populate the planet, etc etc.

Ending prohibition of drugs would eliminate the underground market, would stop the funding of terrorist groups, would do MORE for treating drug addicts, and would save the billions currently spent annually on prohibition and incarceration of drug offenders. We need to treat drug use and drug abuse as a health issue, not a criminal issue. We need free choice for consenting adults, not a nanny-state solution imposed by the government.

'fear campaigns can change hearts and minds... If you do them right you can make a material impact on people's behaviour.'

and it only takes 11 years of operating the more efficient bulb to compensate for the energy consumed during the laser burst

it keeps creeping in, step by step, for as long as enough of us remain silent.

With the story yesterday about the car-centric mobile network, and now this today... it's great to see.

As most of you know, the Internet is at risk of being restricted. Imagine a free, global Internet mesh, where the likes of RIAA and Big Brother couldn't reach. It would be a great boon to freedom of the Internet and to humankind.

Of course, naysayers would probably say they will always find a way to strip our freedoms... but we can all dream, can't we?

no longer will we be slaves to the ISPs!