All I can picture in my head is a mash-up of War Games, National Treasure, Highlander, and Mortal Kombat. If there data post is legit it represents a huge breach in security. More importantly, it's one of the first times a breach has been brazenly flaunted.

I was at the recent shuttle launch for STS-134. I was fortunate enough to get tickets from the Kennedy Space Center. Seeing that shuttle take off was the first thing I have seen that was anywhere near Biblical in proportion. The thunderous noise that followed a few seconds after launch was literally earth shaking. If you can make it, I highly recommend it.

I wholeheartedly agree with the first part of your response. I think, however, you'd be more accurate in saying that "South Carolina was fighting for the RIGHT TO CHOOSE whether owning slaves in South Carolina was OK and not being told by the federal government."

...will be staying inside, under my tinfoil hat on November 2nd.

Thank you.

(Also, need food, water, and ammo.)

This would have made a great "metagame" for the Matrix online or some similar cyberpunk style MMO.
Ping flood the n00bs!

Regardless of the reason for construction, a vehicle capable of interstellar travel is an impressive feat of engineering.

They will at least find out what happened. The more efficient space agencies we have exploring, the better overall for the planet.

Makes the game more fun.

This may be useful in a post apocalyptic world. Chances are, Internet style connectivity will be wiped out. Decentralized regional networks may still exist. Transporting high-density data using antique methods such as the pigeons can allow for FidoNet (remember that?) other BBS-style data exchange. Anything that can get the information moving again is a good thing.

Most likely, it will be firewire. Also, hooking an electromechanical computer to a biochemical computer might turn into something fairly awesome.
With some type of ray gun or beam weapon and hardened carapaces.

Then I saw it was robocalls and not Robocops that were being banned. Chalk one up for the government for a change!

are pretty impressive. It is amazing how much smaller and faster the equipment has become. What is alarming is the rate at which the raw materials are being pulled from the Earth then discarded, usually right after the two year contract expires.

It's the disturbing owl porn fetish of basically reverse-bukkake at the end of the hunt.