This year’s Imagine Cup, a Microsoft sponsored student competition featuring student teams from around the world, is kicking off its finals in Paris, France.  Of course we’re rooting for our friend (and arch-rival) Long Zheng and his SOAK team from Australia, but want to wish all of the competitors good luck, and congratulations on getting this far.  This year’s Imagine Cup focuses on the environment, and calls on young programmers, artists and technologists around the world to "Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment."

The Imagine Cup encourages young people to apply their imagination, their passion and their creativity to technology innovations that can make a difference in the world – today. Now in its sixth year, the Imagine Cup has grown to be a truly global competition focused on finding solutions to real world issues.

Of course we’re also pulling for the three finalists in the Software Design Windows Live Award, from China, Spain, and Turkey.  Again, good luck to everyone!