[wordup] New Google Service

[security curmudgeon]

> Via: http://csof.net/node.php?id=115
> From: https://answers.google.com/answers/main
> 
> Google Provides All The Answers   
> Submitted by Gene on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 09:07    
> 
> Google has a new application called Google Answers where you can submit
> a question for a 50 cent listing fee, and set a price you are willing to
> pay if someone succesfully answers it (from $4 - $50). Google takes 25%
> of the cut of that fee. 
> 
> In order to become a researcher you have to fill out a form where you
> write a paragraph about why you want to become a researcher and answer 5
> sample questions. They have some guidelines for prospective researchers. 
> Your answers are rated by the question submitter and if you fall below a
> certain rating, your researcher status is revoked. 

This sounds like the beginning of SnowCrash to me. For those not familiar
with the term, it is in reference to Neal Stephenson's book 'SnowCrash'.

In it, people can upload whatever type of information they have to a world
accessable database. If Joe User access the information as an answer to
his query, you make money. You set the price on the information you
upload, and the person who does the search opts to pay for it if they feel
it may help them. This is only a small portion of the book and one of many
neat ideas he brought forth years ago. Well worth the read.