Demand is a function of price and quantity. As prices rise when supply becomes scarce, demand has no choice but to decline. There will be a lot fewer people willing to drive anywhere when gas is $1000/gallon.

Second this. I have one - totally awesome.

Worse, it won't even be a "next" Lockheed or Boeing... it will be Lockheed and Boeing getting the big contracts.

http://www.space.com/news/ft-080805-obama-space-policy.html

And... Even better:
Obama has changed an earlier position, in which he planned to delay the Constellation program five years and use up to $5 billion from the NASA budget for education.

"Here's what I'm committing to: Continue Constellation. We're going to close the gap (between the end of shuttle flight and the next program, Constellation). We may have additional shuttle flights," he said.

"My commitment is to seamless transition, where we're utilizing the space station in an intelligent way, and we're preparing for the next generation of space travel."

Well... except when he was pandering for votes in Brevard County, FL. Home of Kennedy Space Center:

Obama: "We need a real vision for space exploration. To help formulate this vision, I'm going to reestablish the National Aeronautics and Space Council so that we can develop a plan to explore the solar system - a plan that involves both human and robotic missions, and enlists both international partners and the private sector. And as America leads the world to long-term exploration of the moon and Mars, and beyond , let's also tap NASA's ingenuity to build the airplanes of tomorrow and to study our own planet so we can combat global climate change. Under my watch, NASA will inspire the world once again, make America stronger, and help grow the economy right here in brevard county and right here in Florida. That's what this election is all about. It's about raising our sights, seizing this moment, and reclaiming our destiny in this country."

This is the fundamental math for computer science. The other is useful for other subjects, some of which will need software... but if you want powerful fundamentals, it's in discrete structures.

Name one that isn't either hobbled with poor hardware or poor interface. Or one that is really hackable.

The Archos Internet Tablet almost hits the sweet spot for me... but even the Android implementation on it is neutered and not fully open.

I want something that takes the phone form factor, but whose primary purpose isn't phone. The iPhone/droid/touch of the world are nearly that but sadly tied to a carrier.

Think slightly bigger than iPhone, smaller than CrunchPad. Big enough to be useful but small enough to pocket and have with you at all times.

I don't want an underpowered laptop or a netbook. It's stupid. If i want a fragile gadget that takes it's own bag to carry around, I will carry my regular laptop.
What I want is a phone size appliance. I have an iPhone and it does most of what I want out of a mobile device.

What I want in addition to what the iphone offers:
Slightly larger screen
Open platform (like android), no restrictions, fully hackable.
Phone/device not tied to any carrier (most important)

Give me that, and I will gladly pay real money for it.

I am hard-pressed to think of any great advances in knowledge that were not already known from by the time the cruddy but long-surviving MIR burned up in the atmosphere.
I hate it when people like you pull the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately schtick. Listen, just because you can't think of anything doesn't mean there isn't useful science coming out of NASA EVERY DAY.

You should look at the NASA Spinoff page. http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/

NASA is pushing the state of the art in materials, robotics, communications, structural engineering, environment and many others. Things that have real-world impact on our lives today. It's not just Tang and Velcro.

The ISS, despite all it's flaws and short comings, gives us lessons every day in how to survive and thrive in the harshest of all environments. It will give us the technology and know-how to do longer range and longer duration missions than were ever before possible.

Sure, but the fiber installer rolls in on triple overtime, the other guy is on salary and gets to suck it.