Many years ago, when I was still a half-starving graduate student, I attended a talk at Sun Microsystems by one of the Sutherland brothers (I can’t remember which one, I think it was Ivan). Mr Sutherland started his talk by asking, with a show of hands, how many people predicted in the early 90’s that the Internet would be huge.

I, of course, raised my hand. I was the only one. Mr Sutherland pointed at me and asked sacastically, “So, how much are YOU worth?”

Without missing a beat, I answered, “Twelve dollars and fifty three cents. But that was before lunch”.

The only person in the room who didn’t find that funny was Mr Sutherland.