Well, to really succeed, this process has to start from the both sides: some well-motivated guys on top have to support some blue collar workers, who, in turn, have to use this power in constructive way. You know, when every one, from the "big boss" to the last janitor's assistant would be really proud to do they work, create something meaningful, help to build better future, etc. Not so likely in current conditions. And that's not even bringing in the problems of outsourcing jobs or even eliminating them completely with the help of robots.

Still, only time will tell how this problem is going to solve itself.

Well, that's the core problem of post-industrial society vs. industrial society. Maybe even post-modern world vs. modern world. Maybe people like Elon Musk (sorry, I know that everyone are already grew tired of his name, but I can't take another example from the top of my head) can renew the popularity of actually achieving something, rather than "great, we've secured the profit for our shareholders for the next quarter, fuck everything else". I, for one, would really love to see a beginning of a "neo-modern" era.

Curse these godless heathens! Now all of Young Earth Creationists will have one more fact to ignore. It ain't easy already!

It is still the same fallacy:

"Nae true Scotsman doesnae ken abit Docker, laddie"

And not even one joke about "knuckle sandwich"?

Maybe it's some 13 y.o. Ukrainian boy?

And iPhone (up to its latest models) was/is a toy too. It was laughed at by all armchair "tech experts", who really thought that Nokia N900 is the future. Now, let's look at Apple and Nokia today, shall we?

Well, what can I say - good luck to you! Here, in Russia, it seems like we've lost our fight already.

So, everything is going exactly as planned, right? If so, why cut grant money from the research group who just proved that?

BTW, inthe same line of thinking, I think that NSA should silently award Snowden with some medal at least. He absolutely proved to them that no matter what they'll do, they won't even get a slap on the wrist. Not that such agencies are known for their sense of gratitude, of course.

Not necessary. Maybe there is some meta-study that measures a public reaction to such news. In that case, results will be very pleasing to the ruling oligarchs.

Man, you need to get out of your apartment more. There is real world besides your computer/TV screen. I'm telling you this as a Russian myself.

Yeah, it's all just great - investments in Crimea's infrastructure, halving the plane tickets prices and all that. But who's going to pay for all that? Oh, it would be simple Russian folk, who already sponsored Olympics with their pensions. And many of them still live in worse conditions than you've described - have you ever been in, say, Yaroslavskaya or Vologodskaya oblast? You know that in the eyes of many people Crimeans soon would look only marginally better than Dagestans or Chechens? With all their subsides, "relaxed" EGE exams and all that.

Besides, do you really think that there is less corruption in Russia? That all these subsides would really reach common Crimeans? Let's just wait an year or two and look at all that "glorious reunion" than - I'm not so sure everyone in Russia or even in Crimea itself would support it so unanimously.

It's a strange day when I have to agree with you more than with somebody listed as my "friend", but it happened today. Moving my personal emotions aside, your arguments are actually solid and sound. Well... kudos to you!

Perfect! Playful and powerful political prose is pretty precious presently. Please, proceed, promote personal prudence.

Really? Ever heard of Anschluss? Doesn't ring a bell?