I believe that the vast majority of computer users in the U.S., if not the world, have never heard about grid computing, and of those who have, a great many of them don't understand it and suspect that it's not safe for their computer or that it's not an effective research tool.

Since governments can dictate what must be taught to in schools, I think we should lobby for laws which require every computer class which is taught in every school, including colleges and universities as well as elementary and high schools, to devote at least one hour to the discussion of grid computing, its safe implementation, and the potential it has to help the world. The curriculum could also at least encourage classroom grid-computing projects, or perhaps even require one.

I am therefore going to lobby my federal and state representatives for that purpose, and I invite everyone else to join me in this effort. If anyone has any ideas about how to improve our chances of success along those lines, I'd like to hear them. Just imagine how many more crunchers we would probably have today if every student had been taught about this for the past several years.

Unrelated to that, but perhaps of equal potential, are public service announcements on TV. Does anyone know about them, i.e., whether they are free and who to contact to get a brief ad aired on TV? I think I will also ask my representatives if they would be willing to try to help get that done, as well. Maybe the federal government will spring for the money to make a neat TV ad, and then maybe the networks will air them for free as a public service. Just another thought.

Cheers.

Bill Velek