If they were regulated as a common carrier, wouldn’t this be a non issue for them? Shame they fought that so hard, it seems like it would have saved them some money.

That’s kinda what I meant, and its something I’m rather worried about.

This shit is somewhat agreeable now, because Pal World is so similar, but once this door is opened, it’s never going to let developers have the freedom to invent and innovate, because crusty old bullies want to use the legal system to punish anyone that dares resemble 2-3 decade old game mechanics.

Should platformer games pay royalties to Nintendo for having the first character to jump twice it’s height?

Video game companies rent seeking for “game mechanics patents” on old shit is just ironically anti fun.

I don’t think I quite agree about governments being predatory by nature. I think they can be, have been in the past, and safeguards and checks and balances need to be there to prevent it. But generally a democratically elected government is beneficial, albeit flawed. Often reactive rather than proactive, but not commonly bloodthirsty. I mean, they often can’t even jail executives for criminal decisions or negligence.

In Elon’s case, I do believe governments around the world are going to have to adapt to protect their citizens from popular, but provably false and dangerous propaganda, as well as protect their privacy in the EU’s case.

Also, I agree, we both aren’t lawmakers. So for now I will just have to cheer any attempt at adaptation, and hope that their solution is functional and passes scrutiny.

Gotta ask, what would you propose that would curb Elon from willfully committing crimes as he is?

He continues to do so because he’s proven the system is broken as soon as someone is sufficiently wealthy. He fights the charges, then when that runs out he fights the amounts, and even when he does get his comeuppance to the tune of 44 billion, he’s an even bigger brat cause he finally got stood up to. Do you think that there’s a way to systematically even the playing field?

Unironically, yes. You shouldn’t be able to shield your actions under a different corporate umbrella.

“Oh, guess we can’t fine them much because Twitter is a money pit, so they’ll get to continue breaking the law for cheap”

Nah, make the fine off of his entire net worth, make him cash in some of that stock so he can finally pay taxes and fines. Make it hurt enough for him to consider not breaking the laws of countries he wants to do business in.

I kind of did the opposite. I assumed the change would be negligible or in the customer’s benefit based on Valve’s track record. I hope this never changes.

Kroger does actually have gas stations in some of their areas. But you’re right, this is a grocery store self checkout machine.

My go to when I hear this is to ask “Do you think it was consensual? Cause ya know what we did to those people, right?”

Attempt to sue them first, and if that fails burn the place down.

Lol, nah, just point out how crazy it lines up with the election that gave us trump to begin with.

Gen 7 came out November 2016.

Oh, billionaires and their submarines. I wish Elon wanted to tour the Titanic.

You’re exactly right. It’s just a timely coincidence, given a bit of creative leeway on my part.

Kinda drives home another point too. Breaking someone else’s encryption is something you do to enemies. If you’re trying to break my encryption communication or installing a backdoor, you’re an enemy, simple as that.

My eternal thanks to FOSS, and open encryption standards.

We’re getting closer and closer to being able to get a degree at Costco.

I’ll bite. Besides the 5 minute plot device intro that is never referenced again in the entire movie, what message does it have? I could see maybe a vague anti corporate message, but all of the movie seems tongue in cheek, including the intro.

And if eugenics is the only political message you can think of, at least we can both be glad it failed and that this comedy movie has only been taken as a joke.

Yeah, short sightedness seems like the biggest defining factor of the anti union mindset.

I know a generally wonderful human being, taking care of his disabled parents, scraping by at a manufacturing job. He is hardcore against unions, says that he can negotiate for himself.

We’re fucked.

As you said, friction would introduce more wear and maintenance. This gentleman’s idea is to attach a windmill to drive the rotary induction wheel, which would essentially be “free” heat energy, and an interesting hobby contraption. Entertainment and a sense of accomplishment is probably his main goal.

Its not a brand new idea, just a different application of the principle. Induction generators already exist, and they can indeed be used with windmills, but to generate AC current versus heat energy.

More power to this fun and crazy inventor. Maybe he can find practical and reproducible use for this effect. If not, he’s gonna have the most unique water heater ever invented. With this he could make a fully mechanical hot water heater that burns no fuel and uses no electricity. He would just have to make a mechanism to disengage a clutch at the top temperature.