Yes, they could just fire you. But what would be the point? I do consulting on the side - my boss knows about it and could care less as long as it doesn't conflict with my job. I'm also a skydiving instructor and that has been raised as a concern an righfully dismissed. If I were to create something (on the side) that made me wealthy, I have no worries about any employer trying to step in and take it, again as long as it did not directly conflict.

Setup a basic LLC for yourself. Create the items/ideas under that. Document your time spent to show that it did not conflict with your full time job.

This would be a great reason to build the cloud city of Bespin - just as long as the appointed administrator doesn't use it as a wager in a card game.

When will we stop referencing Moore's law? This has about as much relevancy today as Tom Watson's statement of "there is a world market for maybe five computers" made in 1943. Really, let it go. As a child I loved the TV show SPACE: 1999. But its gone now and not relevant, the same as Moore's law. No offense to the man himself, I truly do appreciate his work and discoveries. but it is time to move on. Say good night, Gracie.

This should force any and all companies or ISPs to upgrade (read MAINTAIN) their systems. Too many organizations install systems and them let them rot expecting them to run forever without so much as a thought or care for maintenance. This problem extends to the point that some companies have a system so long and have no documentation on it, that when there is a problem, they have NO knowledge of the system. I'm glad we are finally implementing some form of security DNS. Let this expose the any problems or issues smaller companies/ISPs have. It will force them to actually do something about it. Hopefully that in turn will make them look at other systems/processes within their organization.

I agree with you Darth. After almost 20 years in IT I have come across too many companies with strange policies, but I have come across even more paranoid fiefdom builders. These freakazoids act as if they are the sole protector of the entire planet. i often joke that these guys wrap their head in aluminum foil at night to prevent the aliens and/or CIA from trying to program their brain via satellite. You go into a meeting with people like this and they glare at you as if to say "I know you are here to destroy MY NETWORK". I just want to reach across the table and B!TCH slap them. In the end people such as this are only protecting the fact that they don't know as much as they would like you to believe and are afraid you'll find out. All ego and emotion, no true skill. Even if the city has weird policies, nothing justifies one person from locking everyone else out. It just doesn't make sense and even after this, no one with any sense will hire this guy to do anything greater than tune floppy dirves.

DO NOT TAKE YOUR LAPTOP I'm an IT manager with 15 years experience and work for a company with global operations and travel often. I was also in the USAF and traveled to Europe (primarily Germany) many times. That having been said, the laptop is more hassle than its worth. Unless you have a real-time business need, leave it behind. Its a hassle while traveling and you'll worry about it constantly not to mention the extra bag. Bring a camera and maybe a digital voice recorder or a movie camera. Enjoy a the vacation for what it is and not worry about answering e-mails. Leave the US behind and just enjoy Europe.