A govt created crypto coin would have the advantage of being "official". That's all, but that's big. Perhaps it's not enough, but being "official" sets it apart from other coin.

I second this idea. If at some point the gov't becomes convinced bit coin is viable, they could just start their own new block chain . If they bless it with some sort of official "approval" (e.g. Their coin is legal tender for taxes), then that one can supplant any other. And as the parent comment mentioned, any sufficiently large market force can do the same. Eventually, bitcoin won't be the only crypto coin. And if the gov't can create its own competing coin, it can create two, or N, new block chains. thus, it can mint crypto currency just as with fiat money.

This is a combo DVD/Blu-Ray wifi internet connected device. I got it solely for the blu-ray player, but discovered how convenient the internet connection is. A netflix interface is built in. The remote control even has a "netflix" button. There's a tiny bit of setup that you can do, and after that, my over-70 mother can operate it just fine. It also has interfaces for hulu, vudu, and music services like pandora and slacker built in. I used to hook my laptop up to the tv to watch netflix, but no more. There's a selection of other lesser-known services available in the interface, too.

Yep, that's what I posted, umm, before I read your post. (Premature posticulation.) Let's start our own hardware company. There are no barriers to entry, right? ;)

What I want is a computing nugget that I can carry in my pocket (on a necklace, whatever), and then carry any number of different task-specific interfaces to it. You don't even have to carry them. Just walk up to your desk, and your keyboard and monitor connect and you have a desktop. Pick up your "smart-phone" interface, and go. Pick up your candybar interface and go. But all the computing and storage stays the same. It's your cloud in your pocket. Sell me that HTC.

Yeah, that's all we need. Ballistic malware.

What tech talent needs are agents, not unions. That is people to represent them in negotiations who are skilled at negotiating, and motivated to get a good deal. Very much like entertainers (actors, singers, sports stars). The agents focus on the "business" while the talent focuses on delivering value. This is especially true in job interviewing situations, especially when interviewing with a company that has a HR department. They have advantages in that interaction that are unbalanced. I personally would love to have an agent. The idea has it's hurdles, but no more so than the idea of starting a union.

I made a standing workstation from my existing desk, a short (~14") stand for my keyboard and put my monitor on a shelf above the desk. I even made the stand from salvaged materials around the building. You could do it with a small plank and 4 2x2" legs.

Hmm, this question is relevant to the few people, like me, who've found themselves in non-tech positions and wanted to move back. We even had a post here about this recently (here). The interviewer may have a legitimate concern about why your switching back, and whether you will follow-through or flip flop again.

Actually, you don't need a screen, but if you stretch your definition of "something like that" you're on the right track. We have lots of input devices that don't have screens attached: doorknobs, handles, tuning knobs, buttons, switches, pedals. This could be imagined as an alternative to all of them. Put it on a piece of glass and you have an input device that lets painters "trace" pictures from real life, just like the renaissance masters.

To a degree. Kinect has limited range on depth sensor. Camera image is from exactly one POV, so you can't get the micro-movements you can with their camera.

Yes.