Add every phone number to the "Do Not Call" list

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iStock_000006248927XSmall.jpgMy latest crazy idea involves crowdsourcing for good. Much like you can install applications that let you donate your unused computing power to analyze SETI data or protein folding, I was thinking that people could donate their time to add phone numbers into the USA's Do Not Call registry.

I suppose this could be automated, but such a service would quickly get shut down. Instead, treat the problem more like BitTorrent model. Have a central repository that tracks all of the numbers that are already in the system, and offers new numbers up for people to submit. The person simply clicks a button, and then clicks another to confirm, and they are done.

You'd think that this registry would confirm with a call to the actual number, but they don't. The confirmation comes over email to an address you enter. So you can use your own address (with a + uniqufier if you want), or even a service like Mailinator.

Yes, I realize that the FAQ on the site says that "You should register only your own telephone numbers.", but as far as I can tell, this is in no way illegal. Besides, very little of great import every got done by people sticking with only what they should do.

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