Google has apparently applied for a series of patents that will enable it to a put a value on how connected you are, within your social network. Akin to the "pagerank" system used by the search giant for valuing the popularity of websites, "friendrank" would help identify individuals who are particularly influential within circles of friends.

You vote, right? But do you use Congresspedia, Wiki The Vote, the SuperDelegate Transparency Project, OpenSecrets.org, FedSpending.org, or PublicMarkup.org to be an informed voter? They are all projects whose creation was facilitated by the Sunlight Foundation to educate citizens and increase transparency in politics.

On March 28th, I talked on the phone with Ellen Miller, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Sunlight Foundation, about their work. Ellen is also a NetSquared Advocate. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation. You can also listen to it on the little player below, or on the NetSquared Podcast.

Ellen Miller: The Sunlight Foundation is a two-year-old organization that is a combination of a grant-making, and operational institution that focuses on creating greater transparency for the work of Congress.

Looking forward to the show! Last year I tried the Net2 experience through virtual means, which proved as expected much less satisfactory that seeing everyone face to face.

I am now independently consulting full time (since November) with Leland Design, working on projects ranging from violence prevention, to lung health, senior housing and nonprofit management.

My recent technology interest is to discover the application(s) that make basic map rendering of data super easy for nontechnical users. Google is great, and the mashups have been exciting and widespread, but the solutions yet have still proven difficult for the average joe with a data export in their hands to manage.

At a Meetup for SF WorldChanging bloggers last night, Worldchanging's publisher, Leif Utne, told us about an amazing project being launched by the Natural Capital Institute, WISER (World Index for Social and Environmental Responsibility)