Mining silicon on the moon?
Hi Tom, Molly, Jason:

Can someone explain why mining silicon on the moon is a good idea? Silicon is, like, the most common element in the Earth's crust. It's the main element in sand. Take a shovelful of dirt out of your front yard and most if it is silicon. We certainly don't have a shortage here. Now, I'm sure the moon has plenty of silicon too since it's made of the same basic stuff as the Earth. In fact, one shovelful of Moon dust is nearly one half silicon. So, no need to go prospecting, you can find it anywhere on the moon. The hard task would be finding somewhere there is not silicon.

Now, mining helium 3 on the Moon might turn out to be a useful endeavor. He3 is a potential nuclear fuel and it is much more common on the moon than the Earth. However, the advantages over hydrogen for nuclear fusion are dubious. The only real reason He3 gets any attention at all is that it's the only thing we've found that is more plentiful on the moon and so those hoping to find a commercial reason for colonizing the moon look to it as their only hope.

Brandt in Provo (whose dad was a rocket scientist)

Freaky angles in the rafters
Hey guys,

I've been listening for a long time, but have never felt compelled to contact you until I heard these four words carelessly strung together last week: THE SHUFFLE IS DUMB.

Tom, we do have something in common.

1. I lived in Springfield, IL for four years.
2. Greenville beat us (Pana) 61-7 my senior year in football.

However, I have to defend my little cliptastic miracle of MP3 genius. While sporting the Shuffle, I rewired my garage while contorting my body into all kinds of freaky angles up in the rafters. I have also shoveled snow, raked leaves, and cleaned the gutters with Mr. Shuffle attached to my neckband. Most importantly, at the gym I can strap myself into any of the torturous muscle-building machines worry-free (I twisty-tie the headphone cord so that it goes only from my ears to my neck).

Now it's time for me to stoop to a fourth-grade level of maturity.

THE APPLE TV IS DUMB. Since you're the only person who owns one, I'll have to ask you. Can you attach the Apple TV to your neck while contorting your body into freaky angles in the rafters? I didn't think so.

I love your show (except the Shuffle-bashing),

Mike from Maryville, IL

iTunes WiFi store and iTunes Plus
I heard Tom mention either on Buzz or CNET TV that you can't get iTunes plus songs through the Wi-Fi store... I found this on the iTunes Web site.

iTunes Plus content is displayed only if the computer you last sync'd your iPod touch or iPhone with is set to display this content. If you wish to see this content but do not see it (or vice versa), change this setting in iTunes on your computer and then sync iPod touch or iPhone with iTunes on your computer. Here's how to change this setting in iTunes on your computer:

1. Open iTunes.
2. From the Store menu choose View My Account.
3. Enter your password in the resulting dialog and click View Account.
4. On the Apple Account Information page, click the Manage iTunes Plus button.
5. Select or deselect the "Always show me iTunes Plus music and music videos when available." checkbox and click Save Changes.

Great show!
Chris

It's not "The IT Crowd," guys...
Hi,

You recently mentioned the hilarious UK comedy show "The IT Crowd", but you mispronounced it, Tom. It's not IT as in "it," it's IT as in "I tee."

Information Technology, anyone?

Any-whoo, I just watched episode 4 and I just loved it. And I will most likely continue to love IT...

Great show, although it leaves me with even less time to read all those books I buy. (Old habits ..)

bye,
Ola
Kongsberg, Norway

The ultimate Linux chaser
A cheer went up late Friday in the Tech Sector as SCO went chapter 11. (Unless of course they owe you money, then I guess it's stand in line time)

Now if we can only take down the rest of the scum sucking bottom dwellers whose business plan contains only two words..."Let's Sue"!

Dennis O.
Powell, Ohio