What you advocate is not "an internet" - it is an Intranet. Or you might call it a private network.

I agree that the fingerprint has likely evolved very little in the last 60 years - perhaps hundreds of thousands of years! However, the evolution of *fingerprinting* technology is more to the scale mentioned in the story. Or, am I being too picky?

I was *SO* not expecting that.

As far I'm concerned, destroying the drive physically is without doubt the safest way to go. Of course, if the drive is still useful I'll wipe it DOD and repurpose it. But when it's time to dispose of those old platters, the drive will meet a harsh end. One of my favorite how-to vids on the topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAZlFoYa41c

Lack of sufficient postage was not an oversight - it was a strategic move. By paying for the delivery, proof of receipt is not in question. Sons of bastages!