Google recently announced their +1 button, which will without a doubt make the Internet a better place. What's not to like +1?

As everybody knows the +1 concept has been invented at the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) - and it seems like there's event an ASF patent pending on it. (Update: see also here, via @jaaronfarr). Our voting process makes extensive use of this simple and very effective concept.

If you do your math the bandwidth (and thus power, greenhouse gas, etc.) saved by using +1 instead of I agree in all our emails does make a difference for the planet - it's not just a fun gimmick.

In recognition of this invention, usually well informed sources tell us, Google is going to donate 3.141592654 cents (yeah that's Pi - they're Google, you know) to the ASF every time someone uses their +1 button, starting today!

That's excellent news for the ASF - as with any volunteer organizations, more funds mean more action, more power and more fun! I haven't yet been able to estimate how much money those N*Pi +1 clicks represent in a year, but that's certainly in the pile of money range.

A small downside is that we'll need to use +1(tm), with the trademark sign, from now on. That's a small price to pay for what looks like a rosy financial future for the ASF.

Very impressive move. thanks Google! The Open Source world should mark today's very special date with a white stone, as we say in French.

+1(tm)!