Winners & losers VI

Our past experiences with this annual special issue suggest that some of you are going to go to your computers in the next day or two and compose a little message to us. We're not sure exactly what it will say. But to paraphrase: "Just what the heck do you people think you're doing by giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on the technology projects of good, hardworking, decent folk?" We're engaging in a reality check. And we're also indulging in yet another magazine list. Magazines love lists, because they attract the eye and provide a convenient platform for scattered insights. Forbes ranks billionaires, U.S. News & World Report ranks colleges, The Economist runs "league tables," and Playboy...well, never mind.