I have no knowledge of the lore of computer games.

I thought "Starcraft" was the brand name of the computer the guy was using. The only thing I could think of that this cartoon was all about was that North Koreans were bad and South Koreans were cool. This seemed to me like a totally unnecessary belaboring of the obvious, but the sort of thing TB likes to reassure himself about frequently, and to remind others of obsessively.

Maybe the second guy was acquiring more minerals using satellite imagery. He appears to be looking at some form of cartographic display and GIS user interface, an understandable jump to conclusion on my part. A clever contrast of the evils of communism and the glories of freedom? Naah, that's too easy, Even for Tom. Still, the Starbuck's cup...a hint of the intrinsic nerdiness of the geek, or a nod to the triumph of free enterprise?

I could not imagine why someone facing a computer monitor would need to have a pocket calculator nearby, so I felt this had to be some kind of clue. I guess I was mistaken.

Still, after reading all the comments from the others, I still have no idea what this cartoon is all about.

Is a puzzlement.