When I go online, I often check out the headlines and key stories in the United Kingdom (UK). Typically, I visit The London Times. There are many reasons for this such as:

- Our English friends provide a different voice and perspective on world events and on happenings in the USA.

- They are often a few days or weeks (sometimes even months) ahead of us in their discussion of various topics, including technology trends.

- They don't have to be as politically correct - they can call an election or economic event as they see it.   

- Personal preference. I lived in the UK (in North Yorkshire) for almost seven years - I just like the way they think and write across the big pond.

So what have they been talking about lately? Besides detailed analysis on the upcoming US elections, the $700 billion economic bailout and Europe's own banking crisis, one hot topic in their technology section is "The Grid."

Never heard of it? Check out this 4+ minute YouTube video on The Grid.

Europeans think this is a big deal. How do I know? Check out these recent headlines from our scientific colleagues, keeping in mind that these writers are known to play down just about everything: The Grid powers up to save lives and seek the God particle  or Grid of 100,000 computers heralds new internet dawn.  

Here's an excerpt from the first article:

"Scientists believe that the Grid, described as a "worldwide revolution," also has the capacity to find a cure for cancer and save lives following a natural disaster.

Excited researchers, from Vancouver to Beijing and Oxford to Melbourne, watched yesterday's launch at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, near Geneva, through a live video link up.

It has been vaunted as the next evolution of the internet and may even allow researchers and pharmaceutical companies to find a cure for cancer faster than previously thought possible. This is because the Grid is able to crunch massive amounts of data very quickly by, in essence, turning a desktop PC into a supercomputer."

There is no doubt that these are exciting times, but many will see these events as somewhat scary or as another step towards "Big Brother." Indeed, other headlines on Sunday, October 5, such as Government will spy on every call and e-mail, highlighted British Government plans to expand monitoring to capture terrorists.

Regardless of our personal opinions, "The Grid" is coming. While Americans spend the next few months focused on important political and economic matters, technology keeps moving. I suspect we will spend quite a bit of time in 2009 and beyond discussing the good and bad impacts to society that the "The Grid" will bring upon us. If, as Microsoft says, we are trying to build "end to end trust" online, there is no doubt that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of articles will be written on this topic over the next decade.  

Some may even say, I heard about this way back in the Spring. True, Fox News ran an article in April 2008 entitled: The Grid could soon make the Internet obsolete. It's a very good article.

But funny thing, it originally came from The London Times.