Was never a Compuserve guy.... but was a member of Q-Link for a while... I know Q-Link pre-dated AOL, but it probably pre-dated Compuserve also?

Writing code in a SCIF sucks. You won't have Internet access and any code you write can't be taken out of the room unless there is a trusted download process in place (and even then, it isn't easy.)

Usually you are just patching code and debugging in a SKIF as opposed to writing tons of brand new software, but it still sucks.

The strip club across the street that is modeled after a UFO is a lot more geek friendly though. What geek doesn't dream of getting a lap dance in a UFO?

Ah, who couldn't love dear Tampa?

Exactly. "Economist" is about as broad a term as "Politician". Personally, I identify with the Austrian school of economics. But, there are many other camps and you can find someone to try and back up just about any scenario out there. The fact that someone with a title is willing to say something doesn't make it automatically "right."

I think the parent poster is just alone on Christmas Eve and in a particularly foul mood.

Hello, and welcome to Slashdot. It seems you are having trouble understanding how this site works. You posted a comment that people with mod points felt was pure and complete flamebait. You are not entitled to an appeal. Posting a reply to your own post which was already modded as flamebait is both bad form and also demonstrates that you are having self awareness issues.

Please enjoy this site responsibly in the future.

P.S. you seem very angry. Why are you in such a grumpy mood on Christmas Eve?

There is a thing in this country that you many not be familiar with, I call it "choice." If you choose to live Nowhereville USA, you may not have broadband or cable TV. Therefore, if you live here and want to start the next IBM, Apple or Microsoft, you can and should pack up and move somewhere like California.

For the uneducated, if you choose to live in FL, you may in fact get hit by a hurricane. If you choose to live on the Big Island of Hawaii, you may find a lava flow in your front yard. If you choose to live in South Dakota, you might find it difficult to find Filipino food. If you live where I live, you won't be able to shop at a Best Buy store.

None of these things are inherently the problem of your fellow Americans.

The problem is, even if Obama's people are great- integrity that rivals the Founding Fathers and what not... they're only in for 4 years... 8, tops. Then, someone else gets control of everything they masterminded. Up goes the great firewall and what not.

This is why government always needs to be limited. We've seen this problem over the last few presidencies with abuse/stretching of executive power. Look at executive orders, pardons, etc. What happens if a present-day Hiter gets democratically elected? Do we trust this kind of guy with the monarchy-style executive powers Jr. and Sr. Bush and Clinton enjoyed?

Yeah, but there is one government, and lots of private companies, so at least you have a choice. Also, I wouldn't say our government is good at adhering to the Constitution.

Quite well said. The proof is in the pudding... the initial space pursuit was between a capitalist country and a communist country.