Much as I admire NZ, I think the author misses a crucial point. The thing that makes silicon valley special is not the quality of its computer scientists. Sor

Much as I admire NZ, I think the author misses a crucial point. The thing that makes silicon valley special is not the quality of its computer scientists. Sorry to say this cali, but you're probably average in that regard. The difference is that in SV there is a confluence of business and IT guys. AND The business guys actually respect the IT guys. Having worked in a wide variety of locations in the English speaking world, I can say this is pretty special. Just about everywhere else one of two conditions prevails: (a) either the business people don't respect the IT people OR (b) the IT people don't know how to find good business people to be co-founders. So many times I see business guys who undervalue IT "I want to build the next eBay, (vague specs) can you make me that website for $3000 ??" (appropriate response: can you die in a fire, please). Or scam artists looking to get rich and toss the IT a mere pittance for their efforts.