Where are you located? I'm in Seattle, and you'd think it would be 100% Microsoft, but it's not - there is a crazy amount of PHP and even some RoR jobs going on here, as well as Java. Check out Google and Amazon, for sure.
It's not a race to the bottom when all of the open source cars aren't allowed on the racetrack. In the current system, the car manufacturers, the racetrack owner, and the racing sponsors are all in collusion with each other to keep the system just like it is. The open source racers aren't even in the game yet, though they're starting to build the own cars to race on their own tracks.
When you can get actual course credits from an accredited university using open source materials, then the race will really begin, but even then, this is not competition for the textbook churning mills.
I noticed the price comparisons with other SF drives differ GREATLY depending on the capacity of the SSD you're looking at. When checking the 120GB version, the price difference isn't that bad, and if you're using it as a boot drive (as I hope you are), then the peace of mind seems well worth the extra money. Amazon has the 120GB version for around $230 or so.
Reviewing old books is perhaps not that bad an idea. Many people haven't read The Windup Girl, or even The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Especially with RAH, with no new books coming out, there are no big advertising pushes for his works, even though they're republished periodically. Moon isn't even available in Kindle format for some bizarre reason. (I'm about to scan one of my copies so I can have it on my Kindle. If it's ever available in Kindle format, I'll buy it.)
I was at a sci-fi con a couple of years ago, and the _only_ author who had a discussion panel dedicated to their works - was Robert Heinlein. Sadly, the average age of the people there was quite high. I can't help but wonder if some new reviews on a site like Slashdot might encourage the young'uns to pick up some RAH and give it a go. Maybe some even older stuff like E.E. Doc Smith.
Do you have some recommendations for a combo late/mill in the $1.5k category? I was unaware they had gotten so cheap.
In the Star Wars Uncut: Special Edition, not only does Han shoot first, he then goes on to shoot George Lucas several times, and then fits Lucas with a Colombian Necktie. Like a boss!
Alternate ending: Han Solo teams up with Boba Fett and Darth Maul to hunt down Lucas and toss him in the Sarlacc, after fitting him with a restraining bolt.
Does Hans shoot first in this version?
Ja.
This is another indication of how much power corporations have today.
It is a shame we need big companies to take the initiative in social reform - what happened to politicians working for the people?
What power? They're pushing for the inevitable. If it happens, it won't because Microsoft pushed for it, but because it was past time for it to happen anyway.
Why do people insist that we don't allow them to redefine perfectly good words that we are bigots.
...
And I will even go for tolerance, but only up to a point. However what is being demanded isn't tolerance but acceptance.
Because you're a bigot, you are unable to see why this is a problem. You're never going to understand it, so you might as well not bother trying. It would be like explaining color to a blind man.
What is being demanded is the same rights as anyone else has - the right to marry the consenting adult of your choice. You don't have to like it, and the only acceptance that is required is that they have the same rights as you do.
Roughly one-third of my lifetime earnings have been spent on books;
I don't even want to know how much of my lifetime earnings have been spent on books. But when I think about how much of who I am is because of what I've read, it is without a doubt the best investment I could have made.
Happiness isn't having what you want, it's wanting what you have.