Philip Greenspun, who according to Wikipedia is “a semi-retired American computer scientist, educator, and early Internet entrepreneur who was a pioneer in developing online communities” has given $20,000 to Wikimedia to sponsor original illustrations on the site.

His reasoning: "It occurred to me that when the dust settled on the Wikipedia versus Britannica question, the likely conclusion would be 'Wikipedia is more up to date; Britannica has better illustrations.' "

Well take that Britannica, because now Wikipedia will have the best illustrations $40 pending editorial approval can buy.

Some predictions: six months from now, the New York Times will profile one of Wikipedia's more prolific illustrators. A year from then, the New Yorker will run a think piece about recreational Wikipedia illustrators. Can't wait.