If you're going to be "mobile" while on a call, you might have issues with your connections/calls-dropping as you move from tower-to-tower. We have experienced this in-house dealing with TCP-type applications. They lose the handshake.

Assuming you want to start with an R/C "frame" and build from there, "ARF's" are probably the way to go. (Almost Ready to Fly) They take around 20 hrs to build (YMMV). At least you won't be building from scratch...like a kit. (If/when it crashes, you'll be glad you didn't spend a lot of time building from scratch.)

Anyone notice that their "supercar" isn't as quick as the Tesla Roadster (0-60 3.9 secs)? It definately has Tesla beat in top speed. Perhaps "quickness" isn't a big deal for Le Mans-type racing? http://www.teslamotors.com/

I heard rumor that they will be disabling autorun in one of their future releases of Vista. Since it's not mentioned for SP2, I guess we'll be waiting for another update for Vista? http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2009/04/28/changes-in-windows-to-meet-changes-in-threat-landscape.aspx

Interesting thought. One step further. If the bad guys were able to understand/decompile the code and tweak it, they could actually use it _against_ big brother: Imagine if bad guys tweaked the code and essentially gave it the functionality to "spread"(Think "worm". Spreading to millions of users...and millions of "infected PC's phoning home to Virginia). It would more than likely trash their survellance program with a multitude of false positives.

I was in your shoes and "reinvented" myself you could say. Formally an accountant and morphed to an IT person. I was able to make the "leap" by working for an accounting software developer. I racked-up IT experience there, migrated to their IT department and was able to pursue full-blown IT jobs going forward. (It was a small business that was willing to take a risk on me. Some small businesses can give you lots of exposure/experience.) So I guess my suggestion is, depending on what your current experience is, find a job that's in-between what you do now and what you want to do (IT). Then gain experience and migrate.

As you all are probably aware, the feds will be investing billions of dollars to upgrade the power grid and push for green technology. If anyone thinks that any of the oil companies are willing to make this level of committment (throw out their "cash cow" (oil) for green tech) they are fooling themselves. My suggestion is for the gov funding to only be directed to companies whose sole purpose (strategic direction) is green technology. At least Shell has been honest to state that they are dropping their committment. I'm concerned that the rest of the "energy companies" (oil companies in sheep's clothing)will vie for this funding for the purpose of stifling the development of the technology for their own "business reasons". (They will be involved only to protect their cash cow: oil) If they really want this technology to take off. Fund the companies who are soley-dedicated to the technology.

Maybe it's a unique law over the pond, but I thought in the states this "demonstration" by the BBC would still be considered illegal?

I guess I've been asleep at the wheel when this started to happen. My apoligies in advance for the stupid question: When did we start caring about files on a laptop? Do files have a potential of exploding? I thought the focus on laptops were to prevent issues in-flight? When did we start allowing them to do these searches AFTER an international flight? I think there was a line that was crossed and no one pushed back.

You're getting close to a point that I have been trying to make. Given they have "physical access" to these devices and systems, if their IT dept is worth any salt, they would have been able to recover/crack or reset the passwords they were demanding. (Yes, even the root accounts.) They didn't have to "demand" passwords from him...or throw him in jail for it. Maybe he's setting "them" up? This is an ego trip for the city. But it may backfire and expose their lack of competency in the IT dept.

You forgot to include the "Deciders".