Keeping in mind that an oscilloscope consists of basically three parts; data acquisition, acquisition control, and display / data capture, using the PC for the later two pieces works well. I have used and I'm currently using devices from Link Instruments (http://www.linkinstruments.com) that provide a USB connection to the control and acquisition pod and allow for a lot of display and capture options using the power of the PC. Additionally, some of these units also have an integrated logic analyzer, and sometimes the combination can be used to provide complex triggers that neither could provide alone. I've been in engineering for more than 35 years and although some of the high end units from Agilent, Tek, or LeCroy may out perform these pods (for $15K+), for most general engineering the USB units work well. Since most of us travel with our laptops,, the little module simply drops into the bag like any other accessory making sure you always have a scope around when you need it. I am not affiliated with Link in any way, other than as a satisfied customer.

I've been visually impaired (not blind) for nearly 6 years. Add a second monitor (still cheaper than the large 28" plus monitors), enable extended desktop, drag the magnifier onto the second monitor, an re-size to fit. Leave the main monitor at a reasonable high resolution. This allows relative positioning on the main screen, with the details on the magnified screen.
There are also some free and inexpensive text to speech programs available that can help. I have several friends with great vision who use the TTS programs to quickly read larger documents. No eye strain at all.

If you think converting corn to cow is inefficient, then converting corn to ethanol to add to the gasoline to make the corn is just plain crazy. But then again, since the gubment subsidizes the ethanol at $0.50 per gallon, maybe it makes economic sense to the corn producer. Ethanol from sugar beets makes a lot more sense, but there isn't a large sugar beet lobby in DC.

live in a rural section of Ohio and we don't heat our barn, granary, or garage. A standard CFL at 10 or 20 degrees F just doesn't cut it. But the city slickers with their heads up their butts in DC don't understand the real world, and probably never will. I for one will be stocking up sometime before the ban goes into effect.