Prince Charles will appear as a "hologram" at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. The system uses a video projector, a screen and a transparent foil to give the illusion that the royal is there, on stage. Apparently, he wants to avoid wasting the resources of flying 7,000 miles with his staff. And of course, previous criticism by the press:

Charles was heavily criticised in January when he and the Duchess of Cornwall flew to Philadelphia with 12 staff to pick up an award from Mr Gore honouring him as an environmentalist. That trip created 20 tons of carbon dioxide.

Looking at all the waste generated by the Bali climate summit and the sad results, maybe they should start using this system for everyone and for all summits, like the Kryptonian senate but without the wacky foil tunics. [The Mail on Sunday]

8:59 AM on Sun Dec 16 2007
By Jesus Diaz
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14 comments

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strider_mt2k at 09:51 AM on 12/16/07
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This is cool and all, but do us a favor and DO NOT make the multi-legged thing to carry the projector around on, okay?

Stop taking notes, it's not a good idea.
Seriously, I'm not kidding. Don't do that.
OMG! Ponies! at 10:06 AM on 12/16/07
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Or, they could send in their proposals in written form. Kind of like the old State of the Union addresses.

That's right. The State of the Union was originally a written report sent to the Congress, not the crappy clap-fest that it is now.
Jesus Diaz at 10:40 AM on 12/16/07
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@omg-ponies: there's no business like show business.
nosauten at 11:01 AM on 12/16/07
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LOL.
OMG! Ponies! at 11:03 AM on 12/16/07
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@jesusdiaz: Sometimes I wish there would be a President with the cajones to get up and say "The state of our Union is poor" and then list the problems that have to be overcome.
bbfreak at 11:33 AM on 12/16/07
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@omg-ponies: What? Politicians actually getting around to doing things that matter instead of wasting millions or billions in pork and other stupidity? Are you insane? Clearly! That being said, I want to move to you reality where politicians are reasonable non-shifty bastards.
jarobi at 02:14 PM on 12/16/07
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Thats it. I'm moving back to Atlantis.
jackfrost132 at 02:18 PM on 12/16/07
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Hah screw that, I want to move to a reality where I can wave my hand, say "These are not your droids" and have it work. You know and not have it be some geeky re-enactment.
merkhet at 02:45 PM on 12/16/07
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@omg-ponies
Google "Gerald Ford" and "1975 State of the Union"

"Today, [I] stand[] where Mr. Truman stood, and I must say to you that the state of the Union is not good..."
cabowah at 07:10 PM on 12/16/07
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Prince Charles found a way to save him time, money, security issues, and answering the press, but choosing this event I must say it's really really stupid because the it could be the most important meeting of the year. And we all know the business are made over a cup of tea, or beer.

And the sad thing is that Charles is just trying to save face, together with his spin-doctor.

But I think the technology could be put to good use for the EU commission, when they are discussing things you only need to yes and no to...
dysthymia at 08:18 PM on 12/16/07
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@omg-ponies: they still send a written report, and that is why there is a response to it.
oo0cyst0oo at 10:30 PM on 12/16/07
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Anyone remember when they did that with the Gorillaz? Pretty sweet.
...Until you imagine how he's not a cartoon character or an all-knowing green guy.

@jackfrost132: JEDI MIND TRICK FTW!
whiskey at 02:28 AM on 12/17/07
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He is going to be the Emperor someday, so he better start practicing it right now.
halloweenjack at 02:20 PM on 12/17/07
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I wish that they'd spend the money on a holographic Sporty Spice, and by "holographic" I mean the Star Trek type, that you can, you know, touch. Um.