This is a special post for quick takes by davekasten. Only they can create top-level comments. Comments here also appear on the Quick Takes page and All Posts page.
Incidentally, spurred by @Mo Putera's posting of Vernor Vinge's A Fire Upon The Deep annotations, I want to remind folks that Vinge's Rainbows End is very good and doesn't get enough attention, and will give you a less-incorrect understanding of how national security people think.