well... really damn big variable-geometry parabolic dish + high-output magnetron = enemy satellites go boom. Why need a radio transmitter or fancy expensive satellite-killer missiles when you can just fry the enemy sats from the comfort of groundlevel?

You have to wonder if a possibility would be for the big internet and software firms (Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, etc.) who are most negatively affected by this to just pack up, leave the US and move their headquarters and main operations to another country. Obviously such a process could not be done overnight and would have very unpleasant short-term repercussions for said companies but it would definitely send a message to the elected officials.

submarines and aircraft carriers?

considering SSDs have only a limited number of write cycles, database work with heavy writes would likely be better served by RAM disks if you want ridiculously low access times and very high speeds. Something along the lines of a HyperOS HyperDrive or an ACard ANS-9010 / 9010B would likely be better suited but those solutions also have their own issues (namely a very steep price and loss of data when the battery runs out)

How about building it on Freespace SCP as a base? Considering how extensive the mod community for it is (and the fact it's open source) it should be doable and wouldn't need to pay through the nose for the eve graphics engine. Of course, the big issue is getting a licence / clear the copyrights with George / LucasArts / ILM / whoever.

I know it would be a pain to implement on existing airliners, but why not completely separate the cockpit from the passenger cabin on future models / aircraft being built? No door, just a nice solid wall (admittedly going full out with two separate pressure compartments would be overly complex). The pilots come on board from a separate exterior door. Include a washroom and something for lunches/snacks in the cockpit compartment if necessary.

Technically speaking, we're not his customers. We`re just cargo. His customers would be the airlines and/or aircraft companies. That is of course if he is what he claims to be.

Whoever doesn't know the origin of that spectacularly appropriate (context-edited) quote must hand in their geek card immediately.

Long term breeding program for solifugae (camel spiders) or goliath birdeaters aimed at getting the largest breed possible. If possible, teach em to go for the face. And you thought big dogs scare thieves.

Don't those ion-air filter gizmos tend to produce a certain amount of ozone? Not carcinogenic afaik but certainly not healthy.

You do realize he's a COMPOSER, not a PERFORMER? The whole "go perform your music and be paid for it" thing doesn't quite work here.

Problem is that suspending someones license doesn't really prevent them from driving if they're really intent on it. However, seizing the car/truck/SUV/bus of a repeat DUI offender and destroying or reselling it through govt auctions would be a sufficiently strong financial penalty to make them really think about it. You can drive without a license but it is quite a bit harder without a vehicle. The idea also works if the car was borrowed as it'll pass the message that if you lend a car to someone who is drinking/drunk/unfit to drive, you're complicit. As for stolen cars, it's a different situation entirely.

I can second on Toughbooks, those things deserve their name. Depending on how rugged you want (say, completely overkill) and if you have too much money to bother counting, you can also look for a SwitchBack UMPC. Bit low on the computing power but the ability to hotswap batteries and the whole backpack module idea is pretty interesting. (http://www.bdatech.com/switchback/)

Same story here with a LJIII. Recovered from a recycling bin after it had apparently gone down a flight of stairs (or three). The whole frame was broken right in half. Epoxied it back together and it still runs just fine eight years later. On a sidenote, the cheap foamy rubber rollers can easily be replaced with short sections of automotive rubber tubing. Same OD, the shaft matches the tubing ID. it grips paper better than ever and it should last right about forever.