is it still valid for Microsoft to ask 100$+ for their OS?

Define "valid."

From Wilipedia: "It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0... During development, Windows 2000 was known as Windows NT 5.0"

By that logic, Windows 10 is, in fact, Windows 9. So we're good.

And what's the cost for XP or new Windows users?

For XP or a 'build your own PC' scenario I would expect an OEM disk from your favourite corner computer shop will be about the same as you pay for Win8.

For other 'new Windows users' it will be 'free' with their new PC, same as it has been for millions upon millions of users over the years.

this highlights how well software engineers are compensated even compared to other types of engineers.

Is "Engineer" a protected term in the USA?

Here is Canada there is no such thing as a "software engineer."

Chemical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, sure... But not "Software Engineer."

Space is the past, why are countries so hell-bent on these big symbolic Pyramids in the sky?

There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

Plus that many "businessmen" use business travel as an excuse to bill a vacation to the company, or enjoy an out of town mistress.

What the hell do you think this is, 1974? In my industry (software product management) I travel quite a bit and I don't know any other road warriors like you describe.

I have IP TV provided by my Telco.

The PVR UI has a very "Microsofty" feel about it - Wouldn't surprise me if Cisco / Atlanta Scientific licensed it from MS.

The purpose of a submarine like this is be able to deliver their aircraft close to the enemy without being seen, launch the attack (which will appear to have come out of nowhere, with little or no warning) and then leave again without being seen

This is exactly what is done today - Just with submarine-launched cruise missiles. Cruise missiles also have the advantage over human-piloted bombers of not needing to be recovered once the mission is complete.

gotta love the government. stifling innovation for generations.....

Exactly which rules outlined in the two linked articles "stifle innovation."

Lyft and Uber call themselves Ridesharing, but they are actually a taxi for hire service

Last week I took Uber to SFO. I shared the car with another guy who was also going to SFO. The UberDude picked that guy up, then picked me up.

But it's nice to share.

I have several friends and family members who work in the 'entertainment industry' so I don't torrent. Drop in the ocean, but at least I can say I don't.

I'm close to an animation director, set carpenter and set landscaper.

how many people rip themselves now vs torrenting? I have the capability but rarely do.

Me, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

I've never torrented, but I've ripped most of my purchased media for use on my own devices. I don't share my ripped media.

Nope, you are in their sights as well.

I'm sure I'm in their sights, but what I said was I disagreed that this type of piracy was what the 'industry feared the most.'

the piracy the Industry fears most is that which occurs solely in the home, without the use of file sharing sites, cause it is ultimately the hardest to police.

I find this hard to believe. If I buy Big Hero 6 on DVD and then rip it so my kid can watch it on my tablet I can't imagine the industry would care that much - Certainly much less than if if I didn't buy the DVD and instead just torrented it.

Where I live (Vancouver, Canada) the purchase of an electric car is never about savings over gas prices. Even here, where gas costs ~$1.25 CAD per liter and hydroelectric residential power costs $0.0797 CAD per kWh for first 1,350 kWh ($0.1195 CAD per kWh over the 1,350), with a car like the Nissan Leaf you'll never save enough over the life of the car in fuel costs to offset the higher price for the car.

For the people I know with Leafs and Volts it's about doing their bit to reduce pollution and CO2 output, not saving money.