Huge cliche but it amazes me how life can flip on a minor event, a chance meeting or conversation.

I think traveling accelerates the possibility of these events happening.

Hallsands in Devon, England was washed away in 1917 after thousands of tons of gravel were dredged up offshore to build a Dockyard in Plymouth. The dredging caused the level of the beach to drop leaving it unprotected from winter storms. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallsands

Yes. I don't see my none-IT friends/family jumping off the Facebook/ebay/Flickr ship even if a better alternative came along no matter what the benefits.

I agree with the article but Myspace and Yahoo are commonly used examples of ousted market leaders but the market was young(er) when they were disrupted.

I wonder how readily people switch platforms?

I've only switched once in 20+ years. I started using Windows, 3.1, then XP, loved 2000, but switched to OS X about the time of Vista. Got tired of the constant virus issues. Tried Linux, but I've used OS X exclusively for 10 years or more now.

I'll admit that I still feel much more at home on Windows (when I have to fix the kids laptop), it is like putting on an old pair of slippers.

Why do people blame the economy? No doubt it has an effect, but as individuals we cannot change it. Better to spend time looking for opportunity.

Things weren't easier 20 years ago (when I started work) - different yes but not easier.

I see people applying for 100s of jobs without even an interview. Posts with 500 applicants. Yet I have SME clients who have numerous hidden jobs which remain unfilled because nobody at the company is prepared to go through the recruitment process. These jobs are there but it takes a little more to open the door.