My brother spent a year and a half in Iraq. We used facebook, google chat, or even video conferencing to stay in touch. A year and a half is a lot longer than it seems when someone you care about is in harm's way. Social media for soldiers is an awesome thing if used appropriately.

First Steve Jobs loses his liver, then he loses his 4G iphone, what is the world coming too???

Unless you are the state of Michigan and spend 2 years re-designing the welfare program software for the entire state, only to find out that 90% of your employees who've been using the previous software, a DOS program from the 70's, don't even know how to use a mouse. When retraining your entire staff to use basic computer functions costs more than a 2 year IT project, it might be time to talk to HR.

Do you realize that almost half of the questions on this Yes/No questionnaire are not Yes/No questions? (Yes/No)

Unless you're the one who posted the comment, I think this dude was being serious. People get pissed when web developers build stuff that people actually like. A little thing called UI design that the software industry usually (not always),lags behind in. It doesn't matter how cool your program is, if only a programmer can figure how to use it. Of course, there's the other end of the spectrum with Apple, they build things to look cool first, to be functional second.

I always set the automatic update to ask me first if I want to install anything. I wouldn't turn it off completely, you will need important security fixes (with microsoft there will be a lot).

You either need to change your automatic update settings or you have a re-curring error, in which the system is set to automatically restart. To turn it off: Right-click on My Computer-> Click the Properties option-> Click the Advanced tab->Click the Settings button under Startup and Recovery->Uncheck the Automatically restart check box That should take care of all the automatic restarts that happen, unless something else is going. I had that happening all the time until I changed it up. Silly Microsoft.

First Jobs steals a liver and now he's trying to take over my computer. I'm pissed.

First of all, I never said what scope/type of design, development, server, CMS, etc. I do. Second, you're a moron if you think that all parts of web development are as simple as outsourcing to a code monkey in India. Finally, to answer your first question, people can and do pay good money for talented web developers/designers. To the tune of $75 an hour at my company. I guess that's why you posted anonymously though, no intelligent life form would want to be associated with dribble like that.

You're exactly right, and the under appreciation or lack of respect for IT skills runs deeply across the entire industry. I've been doing web design and development for over five years and I always get the same general question from friends, colleagues, relatives, etc. Them: "So I have this business idea, but I need a website. Can you build me a sweet e-commerce site, with killer apps., awesome graphics, flash interfaces, etc.?" Me: "Yeah I can do that. (In my head I'm thinking for the right price)" Them: "Ok well my budget is $300, do you think that'd work?" I generally don't even dignify this type of crap with a response, unless it's someone I have to be nice too, like that family member you always see at Christmas. People just don't understand the years it takes to develop the necessary skills and the constant break neck pace our field evolves at. Yeah, I spent all this time and effort becoming proficient in this highly technical trade so I can make you rich while working for $4 an hour. No thanks.