Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. . .

Though the Marauder's map is one of the few things in HP that immediately made me think, "oh yeah, I could build that . . "

I'm a little perturbed at the notion that Obama can be tracked by GPS. I don't care how good the encryption is.

Wouldn't the alternative -- that Obama absolutely COULD NOT be tracked by GPS or any other means -- be potentially as scary in the event that something terrible happened?

I have to say, I've never quite understood the technology = magic business. It's more like "any sufficiently diminished notion of magic is indistinguishable from technology." And "any sufficiently advanced technology is simply accepted as natural." Cf. language, writing, electrical wiring, television, etc.

My years in computer tech support taught me the utility of ritual sacrifice to a haughty, incomprehensible master. So I buy into the basic resemblance of complex machines to black magic.

As for the GPS angle, I'll bet anyone out there $20 that sometime during Obama's presidency he'll make the little Obama dot disappear and then sneak up on Emanuel mid-panic. At least, that's what I would do. [Note: burden of proof for bet falls on the other guy---prove that Obama didn't etc...]

This post cracked me up. That's my only contribution.