So we can't trust private citizens to guide science, but should have complete faith in appointed government beueaucrats and regulators?

They did. It's called Linux.

But GNU/Linux is POSIX-compliant, and that's what people mean when they lump Linux with UNIX or call it "another UNIX."

Now I *know* the gobbledygook password you generated for me is not compromising me anywhere else on the net. I have no financial interest in LastPass; just a big fan.

Privatizing good health, among other things IS " and a central component of a fair society and well-functioning economy ". For an example of the alternative, see this recent article from the Telegraph: http://bit.ly/12htACN "Equality," in the post-modern sense, is one of the most unjust ideas of our time.

Put up the people that they think will add the most value. Period. Who would get to decide what consitutes sufficient diversity? The population of the hosting country? State? My personal circles? And how much will diversity weigh against merit?

Slackware (Yeah Walnut Creek!) --> Red Hat --> Gentoo --> Ubuntu (sharing with family)

Can we agree that they are "POSIX-Compliant"*? That's what underlies them all, whether OSX, Linux, or BSD. * I know, by compliant, I really mean "mostly kinda sorta ish" compliant

Amazon having a large share of the market does not in itself prove a monopoly, as Apple asserts. Amazon had other competitors just waiting for them to stumble. It seems to me that Apple's ability to enter the market, and to do so on terms as different from Amazon as they claim, tells me that Amazon did not have "nearly absolute" power.

Two obersrvations: 1. It may be the nerves of the camera, but if you are asked to explain your product and your first response is "uhhh...," that'sa sign the product goal isn't clear. He has trouble explaining this despite havinf presumably done it a hundred times already. 2. What's with the giant 6-foot insect in the corner? It's quite the distraction. It looks like the ubuntu tent is in the corner of the hall with the insect infestation.

WTF? I'm no fan of Java (we all know the logo is coffee because you have time to get some while your app loads), but this is another challenge for the Linux desktop.

Seriously.

I hate to start a fanboy thread, but not enough not to do it. I have been using http://www.fastmail.fm/ [Fastmail] and love it. Not free, but is freaky fast and extra features that make mail management easier.

Better; she grew up in a decidedly non-lassiez-faire system and learned that reality all too well.

This is what I don't get. Everyone in this poll and discussion is talking about tablets, but he doesn't talk about his tablet, he talks about his iPad - not with any bad intent, but it seems like people who own Apple products think in terms of brands rather than devices. You have a smartphone, I have an iPhone, as if it isn't a smartphone but something ELSE.