I run Linux on my desktop computers, but have used a Chromebook when I travel, and for a lot of people, ChromeOs is a pretty sensible option for a laptop. It's fast, secure, and the available hardware is good. What will the Googlebook offer that is different? The first offerings might not figure out what the value added will be, but I'm guessing if Google sticks with it, for many users, it will resonate.

Gore never said he invented the Internet. This came from a story by Declan McCullagh in Wired News, mocking Gore for taking credit for the success of the Internet. Gore did deserve credit for his role in supporting the early development of the Internet and was practically the only member of Congress paying attention to the Internet in the early days, when it was primarily an academic/government network.

Dave was a good guy, a kind person with a big heart, and someone who wanted the Internet to work well and benefit society. Dave's interesting people email list was pretty influential at one point. Dave had a type of soft authority, that people paid attention to, because of his combination of technical knowledge, altruistic motives and common sense.

I don't think this is very accurate. All other multilateral IPR negotiations are far more transparent:
http://www.keionline.org/misc-docs/4/attachment1_transparency_ustr.pdf

I agree. A call to a Congressman's office from a constituent actually means a lot. They don't hear from anyone but lobbyists on most issues.

I think this explains in part why Yahoo has focused so much effort into getting WIPO to create a new global treaty on webcasting. Unfortunately, that's not good news, and my guess is that few people actually doing technical stuff at Yahoo even understand how messed up the webcasting treaty langauge is, and what it would do to the web.
More on this here: http://www.cptech.org/ip/wipo/bt/

Jamie