For both breaking news and obscure information alike, people around the world search on Google at www.google.com. With a bit of analysis, this flurry of searches often exposes interesting trends, patterns, and surprises.
Let's just say that the future looks a lot like the present, only with more of everything -- more broadband access, more wireless technologies, more data storage and more competition for the West from China, India and the rest of Asia.
"Using FOAF data, identify someone you know. Create a small message.rdf file to fit in the space provided. Connect this to your friend. Find your friend's location using their geo:lat and geo:long coordinates. Generate a postal address using your favourite online geographical resource. Affix postage stamp. Send via snail-mail."