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According to a New York Times report, Google has been seeking out and posting comments from people mentioned in stories found on Google News since spring. The company blogged an announcement in August. I know: This changes everything. Except there are currently only 140 comments posted among the 4.3 million stories in Google News — a participation rate lower than one-third of one percent. As the Times reports, even with Googlers emailing the subjects of news stories, people just aren't coming out in force to get their comments in. Are you an aspiring pundit? Here's an easy one for you: Predict that this will explode in 2008. Next year, do the same for 2009.