I would encourage you to view one of the many sites out there that let you search public registries of sex offenders. (for example, http://familywatchdog.us/ For fun, enter your address. You'll find:

1) the number of sex offenders isn't a "few" (if you live in a metro area, there will be dozens in a 2 mile radius)
2) if you view each one's offense, you'll find most (75%+) had "victims" 14 years old +. Some of those might have been "rapes", but were probably hooking up with someone they should have known better, but it was as consensual as any liaison (ignoring fact that a minor can't consent, but survey any high school and see how chaste your average teen is)

Such sex offender laws apply to all of these (plus those who get caught urinating in public, having a romp with their spouse in public, etc); not a "few depraved and/or dangerous/psychotic people". But "think of the children!" How about a single DWI resulting in a lifetime ban on owning a motor vehicle, or a single drug conviction resulting in a lifetime 9pm curfew?

If someone is truly so sick and perverted that they need a lifetime of monitoring, then give them an adequate prison sentence.

Correct, but IE was a part of it. Microsoft was using it's monopoly power to prevent OEMs from bundling other browsers.

As soon as they get to about 90% PC marketshare (don't get pedantic on the "PC" term). They're at what, 15% or so these days? (growing but far from being an abusive monopoly)

Microsoft abused their power by preventing vendors from bundling other browsers. Apple isn't abusing anyone: they make the hardware.

Android has a higher percentage of the smart phone market than Apple has in the PC market. Google has 90%+ of search traffic. You get a new Android, and do a search in the default browser, it defaults to Google. Before OSX is forced to do a browser ballot, Google will be required to do a search engine ballot, given the numbers.

1) SF isn't the norm. There's a different mindset there than in Houston or Topeka or Fargo.
2) Do you think the setup you mentioned is something everyone who buys a $40 router at Best Buy or calls the phone company to "turn on the Internet" could manage? That's what the EFF is proposing.
3) Was the coffee shop a non-profit? Were you an investor?
4) If Wikipedia is an example of how good everyone is, why do they have such a strong protection policy? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy

GPA is irrelevant: I screwed around in college and left after a couple of years with a 2.7. (GPA != intelligence, it = discipline)

Those making $40K a year are probably limiting themselves to particular languages, and want a local job they can drive to. However, a cheap consultant should be able to make $40/hour. $50-75 isn't outlandish. Yes, you'll need to hustle for remote gigs. No, there's no magic sauce to doing that, but getting involved in online communities is where you start.

Or build an app that makes a decent amount each year: something that charges $10 month needs very few customers to double $40K.

The same is said of consensual sex with a minor: anyone under legal age is incapable of consenting. A 22 that has sex with a girl 17 years old, 364 days at 10PM is a felon who must register for the rest of his life as sex offender, but if they go to a movie first and then get it on at 12:01AM he's in the clear. (I'll leave it to other commenters to come up with a snarky comment)

(Assuming it's a state where 18 is the legal age, I know it varies)

  Kinda interesting considering that minors can be certified as adults for purposes of conviction, but not for purposes of defense.

LA as we know is well known for its role in the space program, and is well known for being included in famous quotes throughout the space program's history.

Tens of thousands of Houstonians have worked at the JSC so that all the hipsters could Instagramify their giddiness at seeing Endeavour come to its final resting place.

In many publishing contracts, the author gets up front money that is a deposit against royalties. If the book doesn't sell enough copies, the author must return some of the money.

The point is that whether the iPad is any good or not, there was no market before the iPad. List all the Android tablets on the market prior to Spring of 2010.

Wouldn't I be subjected to the same long and expensive contract if I bought an S3, or does Samsung provide free data plans? (You can purchase both the iPhone and the S3 no commitment)

It's actually more like 93% and very slowly diminishing (given Apple's high costs). I suspect over time we'll also see a small percentage of people become tablet-only.

However, it's interesting to see the sentiment shift. Years ago, the assumption about PC use was that Microsoft's unfair business tactics, rather than the superiority of the platform, were what caused the dominance.

As others have pointed out, users waiting for BB10 have nothing to do with lack of growth: those users are part of the current userbase, and wouldn't result in growth.

Interesting point to make. Google has contracted to be the default in iOS (OSX too?), Firefox, Opera, and of course it's the default on Chrome and Android. There's conflicting reports about whether or not an Android vendor could use Bing or DuckDuckGo and still be allowed to ship with Google Play. Pointing out Microsoft's behavior as an example of abuse isn't exactly a supporting argument, as Google's behavior is very similar.

It's not maintaining. It just is.

Not to mention the contracts they have (or on what they produce) to be the search box defaults: iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari.

Remember, Microsoft didn't manufacture their own computers, yet had a monopoly.

Remind me again why Microsoft is required to show alternate browsers, when IE is free?

(They've actually failed and the EU is back after them, but that's besides the point)

Moreover, a majority of "search" boxes default to Google, as opposed to a customer making a choice. (iOS, Android, FF, Chrome, Safari)