While I applaud (and always do) advances in supercomputers, it raises the question of what happens to the previous generation(s). I'd love to get my hands on even one of the blade based boxes in your usual configuration. Might not be good for the projected tasks in modern proposals, but they would be more than good enough for my modest needs. Anyone know who the surplus process works?

Check out the advertisements in Digital Photo Pro and similar. There are usually a number of ads for backpack style bags----some of which are designed for laptops as well. I'd tell you what I use, but I don't haul around my photo-laptop so my setup wouldn't work for you. A smallish bag is good for my Nikon and my best guess regards needed lens(s) of the day. I know I've see adds, sorry can't remember specifics....

I'd say that since you aren't dead yet (no check for zombie) then the very notion of 'too late' goes right the hell out the window. Find a project that interests you; implement it in the 'new' language and see what happens. If you and the language don't 'click', pick another language. Lots of languages, lots of projects---shouldn't be a problem; good luck :)

Without regard to guitars and other instruments, go find a high end stereo store and listen to a Macintosh---not made by apple :)

http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/us/Pages/Home.aspx#

--hsm

Read my mind! Most of my needs are calculation, not graphics. In fact the normal display of my boxen/laptops is sufficient to tell me if I'm on the right track. I'm still addicted to fractals after all of these years :) Started before fracint after a grad class at UCSC and have been hooked ever since. I've even toyed but not yet cut code with the idea of using the GPU version of the Amazon Cloud. The (pun alert) complexity is high, but the price is right! I figure that given what we are talking about as a initial breadboard, I could map out my code and then move to the Cloud. Don't know if you've seen the ultra hi res photos that allow substantial zooming, but that is more or less my target. Imagine a fractal that you can zoom in on without crunching the numbers, because they are pre-calculated! :)

Wasn't talking about Thunderbolt---I've no machine capable of such a connection---nor do I have any confidence in it's longevity. I'm looking for a simpler approach using existing existing connectors (sufficient for the needs of the hardware in question) plus outboard slot with power brick. Give me that and I'm good to go. Better if it supports higher end boards, but I'll settle for as many GPUs as I can get my hands on :)

Because you can't afford one? Couple of grand is fine if you have it---much less fine if you don't. Don't much care for the lashup described in the referenced article, but a link towards the end leads to some bare metal work that brings the price down to around 300.00 or so. What I'd like to see is a simple box that allows a graphics adapter slot upgrade (or two) for existing boxen. Might take a while to save up (fixed income and all that) but given one, the possibilities are large. Oddly enough, I don't particularly want the graphics, but I'd love to get my hands on multiple processors :)

Finally---verifiable proof that parallel universes exist! I'm particularly impressed by the remark about Linux conferences. Oh and did you go to this years Sundance Festival? I think there was a film about you!!

Ah! That is a statement with which I agree completely. Although given his audience had he used anything normal to his generation, the target of his remarks would have been completely confused. They don't understand even their 'own' culture, let alone anyone else's. In fact I'm not sure they understand anything except the bizarre notions that pass for 'truth' among them.

Bullshit---that fact that idiots and assholes misquote and miss-characterize a work of literature has nothing to do with the literature. Your assumption that it does is right in there with their misuse. Now if this was meant in jest, your hints as to such use are really hard to see---use darker ink next time...

restraint of trade? Could someone more sec/lawyered up than I explain this to me?

The second is already true as well as obvious. The first is a stretch on the second in that kids who don't really give a damn in the first place may use the existence of such tech as an excuse to skip checking up on the old folks at home. Truth of the matter is that either the kids care or they don't---such additions to the scene won't make much of a difference. Frankly, when the time came I was much more comfortable visiting my mother at home in surroundings that we were both 'comfortable' in; so anything that contributes to that would be a good thing in my experience.

You treat teachers like shit? Given the Union Busting (they don't call it that, still might upset the voters) going on in places like Wisconsin and Idaho (probably more that I don't know about) and the general 'teachers are the ones costing us all the money' attitude root of the current propaganda going out from every mouth, the chances of eventually having more engineers seem very slim indeed. Even in the bad old days of one school house for all grades per section, we respected the ones doing the 'hard' work. Might have begrudged the lack of an additional hand or two, but that wasn't the teachers fault. And at harvest time everyone was on call anyway. Now? Now we have idiots who complain about 3 month vacations and having easy jobs, and...and... The ignorance of the public would be no problem if it weren't for the ignorance of the politicians (who are not only ignorant, but stupid enough to think what they are doing will somehow make thing better) Think about this (for those old enough) at one point the typical grade school had two people whose job was not full time teaching. The Principle and his secretary. And in most cases the Principle taught a class or two. These days even a grade school has an enormous pyramid of time and money wasting 'Administrators' at the top. Are they at risk? Of course not---they are busy bad-mouthing the teachers and supporting the politicians who are the real problem. More engineers? Pigs will fly bearing ice-water before that happens again in this country.

They listen because his ideas and opinions while contentious as hell have affected the world we all live in for the better. He has made numerous contributions both philosophical as well as material. You on the other hand haven't done a god-damn thing. Gee---tough choice listen to Richard or you...

To damn bad Microsoft didn't pay attention to you when they cloned _________ (fill in the blank on the product of your choice) obviously all of these were failures. Your abysmal ignorance of the history of software evolution over the last 3 decades is rather remarkable----definitely worthy of the +5insightful, oh yes indeedy!