^I am reading every word you are saying and addressing all the points I see. You underestimate science budgets by 4600% though. Perhaps that is one reason you think it is money well spent?

You are attempting to argue for government funding of science based on personal experience, but as a scientist you should know that 3 is a pretty statistically impoverished sample.

How can you judge whether companies are willing to take risk? Who would not be interested in a smaller computing alternative to vacuum tubes, or to a phone that you can utilize anywhere in the world, or to clean energy? Clearly these things will be in high demand, and some (remember theres 6 billion people) would be willing to take that risk.

In effect, you are telling me, and others, what products their money is "well spent" on...can you really argue for that? What if it was $1,000 or $10,000 would it still be well spent? At what monetary value does it no longer become well spent?

Transfixed by transistors. A fascinating look into the secret life of vacuum tubes. Soon, this will become a lost art, and all of this archaic craftsmanship will be a thing of the past. Nice sift -- beautiful.

(So glad I paid attention in high school french class)

Here are mine that got blasted:

http://www.videosift.com/video/Bill-Maher-in-Cannibal-Women-in-the-Avacado-Jungle-of-Death

http://www.videosift.com/video/How-to-Make-Your-Own-Vacuum-Tubes

http://www.videosift.com/video/Sol-Invictus-The-Undefeated-Sun-BBC-Motion-Gallery

http://wtf.videosift.com/talk/CHEMTRAILS-Is-US-Govt-Secretly-Testing-Americans-Again

has been updated

In reply to this comment by gorgonheap:
although barium can be used as a poison (when mixed with water or acid). There are a lot of other man made products that use barium. Such as spark plugs, batteries, superconductors, dyes, vacuum tubes, florescent lights, bricks, rubber, glass, medicine and in manufacturing processes. Sounds like pollution to me. I don't see how the government fits into this.

although barium can be used as a poison (when mixed with water or acid). There are a lot of other man made products that use barium. Such as spark plugs, batteries, superconductors, dyes, vacuum tubes, florescent lights, bricks, rubber, glass, medicine and in manufacturing processes. Sounds like pollution to me. I don't see how the government fits into this.

I for one am frightened at the knowledge that any nuke ANYWHERE was ever controlled by a vacuum tube computer *shiver*

upvote from me for a great glimpse into the world of the cold war, And its ever present propaganda machine

Interestingly, the Russians lost air-superiority because they designed for major nuclear war, and used vacuum tubes, instead of solid-state transistors.