Wiring up Bogistan (without wires)
Up at the University of Dundee they're working on a simple but boffinly idea: solar-powered street lights. Presumably some next-gen solar panels and heinously powerful LEDs or something, but they come with optional wi-fi and mains sell-back. The idea's based around the kit used by disaster agencies.
Meanwhile Nicholas Negroponte is touting the $100 MIT clockwork laptop with mesh networking as a teaching tool for third-world kids.
This is fab stuff. You could - concieveably - trundle a truck into a village in Bogistan and unload lighting, laptops, networking and enough spare juice to run a community fridge or two, all from the box and with no infrastructure requirements whatsoever. And if they use cornstarch plastics, existing materials to mount the lamps, and Honda's new non-silicon solar cells, the environmental impact might even be sensible. Add a point of presence to the internet and you've got a global hookup with reliable data, voice, and whatever else you fancy.
I want a crate of goodies and an island. Please, Santa?
Keeper of the Truth, Self-Important World Jester, Minister of the ULC, Authority Disfigure, Unofficial Non-Spokesperson for the Oriental Trading Company, Priest of Spode.
The genetically engineered progeny of the divine and Sapphic union of 
No, silly man, we need better telly.
flap flap flap flap flap flap. heh.
A being of eternally oscillating equilibrium. Founder of the Church of Stairianism.
Occasionally moonlights for Raven, although the hours and the pay are not very good. He does legwork for Admonishing Lady (prizes for identifying the Lady). Contrary to occasional opinion, he has a day job and a sense of humour.
"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.