I run into this with clients occasionally. I don't do onsite development work unless I am able to bring my own dev laptop and screens and other equipment including a hardware firewall between their network and my machine. And I don't use their email servers. I've been fortunate that it hasn't been rejected so far. Some clients only allow http/https access going out. I set up my dedicated server with multiple IP addresses for ports 80 and 443 that reroutes for pop/smtp, terminal services, etc... I ask the client first and show them my routing setup. Usually their policies are in place for non IT people and they just don't have different network policies for various departments.

I removed the lens from my old one and made a mount so I could insert the board into a cut down sink drain pipe. I use it in my telescope so while I'm controlling it from the laptop I can also see what the telescope is pointed to on the screen. No more having to look through the eyepiece. With some experimentation on focal lengths you can get the raw CCD bathed in outer space goodness, and running Stellarium at the same time is a plus. The Lunary Planetary Imager for this scope is about $100 USD and doesn't work as well.

I have some great videos of the moon and really good captures of Saturn and Jupiter. Now if I could just get my neighbors to agree that they don't need 6 lights on during the night. I treasure trips to the NorthWest. I have eagle vision and can see the rings of Saturn with the naked eye if they aren't straight on. By see, I mean I can detect they are there, but only in the deep desert or in the NorthWest.

I know this accounts for only 1, but it is a start.

Agreed. At least that was my experience. I've served with gays/lesbians in peace time and in war in a combat zone. But I've served with people that had other alternate thoughts of the world not relating to gender that also got them ousted. Like this guy that looked at his military career as a soapbox to preach on the flightline, or this other dude that thought it would be a great way to introduce people to the kkk, or this other lady that was so into Amway that she was always trying to sell on the job and couldn't get any work done. We had a guy that refused to take showers that was tossed. We had servicemen and women discharged for extra-marital affairs. If you are profoundly for heterosexuality, homosexuality, forcing your religion, or the kkk, or the black panthers or whatever I don't give a crap and I think most service members don't either. I don't want to know, I just want you to do your job. But if you want to take an unprofessional stance of letting it affect your profession and others it crosses the line.

We were weapons people on the flight line and attached for close combat support. Granted we didn't catch the hell that ground troops do. We only got missile and rocket attacks, a few suitcase bombs etc..., and we didn't lose a lot of people. I actually liked the concept of DADT in the spirit of the name but implementation was silly, and it wasn't really necessary. I think it should be an unwritten rule. Don't ask and don't tell about anything. For all I know someone could be seriously into monkey porn. Enjoy your monkeys but don't bring monkey pictures to share with the rest of your unit. Mind your own business and don't let your business affect others. There are already rules in the UCMJ covering political expression, performance, and behavior while in uniform. There are rules about public displays of affection. I never held my wife's hand or kissed her in public while in uniform because we were ordered not to. When you raise your hand and take the oath you are military property. At least that is how I understood it. You don't go to political causes in uniform, there are strict fraternization rules, and you do your job.

We had gays and lesbians going to ball games and social events and nobody really cared. They were good troops and most held up well in wartime just like most others held up well. When it became an issue it was because it affected work or affected living arrangements for other soldiers. Just like the preacher/kkk/amway/blahblahblah issues did. We did have some issues where communal facilities (like showers) were involved and some issues with dorm roommates. In the shower incident it was a guy looking at another dude's package and he got excited and made a physical advance with touching involved. In the dorm room incident it was a guy stroking his puppet while standing naked near his sleeping roommate. In my mind that is a sex crime and they would be ousted anyway. To me the shower thing is the rough one and is difficult to manage simply because of resource allocation. If some other guy is getting wood while winking and staring at your goodies that is a wee bit uncomfortable. Avert your eyes guys!