[numair]

Silicon Valley is its own culture. If it were to actually die, it would be gone forever - there would be no replacement. There are enough people dedicated to the preservation of this culture to ensure that it will survive, even in the face of such dire economic straits (which will get worse). Every other place on Earth is, well, culturally unable to replicate the advantages of Silicon Valley. You can't buy it, you can't build it... Attempts to do so look like faux Roman statues in the backyard of a McMansion.

That being said, I really wish I could build a time machine and transport myself to Silicon Valley circa 1999. Felt as though it was the center of the universe, a place where you could become a mogul overnight, and where anything was just a Series A away from becoming reality. Yeah, it was totally ridiculous, but I find ridiculous things to be quite enjoyable.

[davidw]

I hated it because it was so silly. I am fundamentally a builder, but that era wasn't about smart people building cool stuff, it was a gold rush. I was happy to get out.