Say that you have almost unlimited financial capital, social capital, and media access, combined with what must be the largest network of human contacts -- how would you harness that power for good?  Well, Oprah Winfrey has decided to use it to catch criminals, namely sexual predators that have been on the FBI Most Wanted List but elude capture.  After last week's show, which featured pictures of the wanted fugitives, two were captured within 48 hours.  Both men had traveled to different jurisdictions than the ones in which they were wanted -- one to a different state and one to Belize.  Information on the remaining fugitives are here.  Watchers who identify fugitives receive $100,000 from Oprah's personal pot o' money.

Say whatever you want about ratings, grandstandings, or publicity.  I imagine Oprah has enough of those things to last a lifetime.  I think the amazing idea here is that Oprah, reaching her watchers, then friends of watchers, then friends of friends of watchers, may be able to find those fugitives living among us much, much faster than a poster in a post office.

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