IIRC our postal service in the Netherlands had something like this: you could digitally compose a letter or even a postcard, and have it sent to someone in physical form. The service was wildly unpopular... I think a service that has the receiver pay for such mail would be even less popular.

Snail mail is more or less as good as it's going to get, the problem is that it's expensive to keep it that way. Especially if they have to earn on one letter what they used to earn on 10.

Steerable beams of concentrated sunlight... wouldn't that make a terrific weapon as well?

On the other hand, unless companies were allowed to profit from life-saving technology, there would be no incentive to invest in the R&D to invent it if another company could come along and just duplicate the technology. Or you could develop such technology only in government labs. But the funding for that can't compare to corporate funding, especially in the US of late.

⦠it's got a long, long way to go before it can replace human interaction.

While not exactly the same since it's not AI, some guy married an anime character. Different strokes I guess..

For Tesla's FSD, it kinda makes sense. Tesla saves a lot of money by putting the required sensor package and processor in every car instead of doing it to order, but they may not want to make everyone pay for it if they are not using it. Conversely, consumers might not all want to pay for the substantial cost in software development. And they may change their mind later. So: your can can already do it but you only pay the (hefty) fee if you want the service.

But what BWM and VW are doing is scummy. There are few or no extra costs associated with offering the full available HP to everyone, or the heated seats. There is no significant R&D cost to spread over those who actually want the service vs. charging everyone for it. It's an extra revenue stream for them by holding parts of your own vehicle to ransom.

My wife got a call from a guy claiming he was with Social Security, and asked for her date of birth and SS number to verify her identity. She replied "You called me so it's YOU who has to show proof of identity". After some back & forth with the guy, she hung up exasperated. And, as it turns out, the guy was legit.

There are still many organisations who do not understand this basic fact: if you call someone's private number, chances are good that you get the person you're after on the phone. But if someone calls you, that could be anybody... even with caller ID (which can be spoofed). Some organisations turn it around and will call you with: "Am I speaking with mister xxx, last 4 digits of SS number 9999?". Still not to be trusted, info like SS number, date of birth or client number are all too easy to get hold of.

And section 230 allows them to do both. You don't understand section 230. See here.

How is it that companies even have access to their employees' pension funds? Why isn't the fund a separately managed entity that the company (more accurately: the employee) pays into?

You're confused or replying to the wrong person. I never made any arguments regarding human evolution or historical diets nor did I make any argument against anything.

My guess is because vegetarians believe it will be easier to convince omnivores to be vegetarians if there were at least a transition-period meat-substitute product to make the transition easier, i.e., not have to give up burgers cold turkey.

You would think that at a certain level of power consumption, it ought to be cheaper to produce your own power. If it isn't, then the market is screwy, or the power companies are extremely efficient.

In the end, the middle class pays for everything. Because that's where the money is.

Not vibes, it is exactly like "1984" where people get arrested for what they let slip in front of a Telescreen.
I am fortunate to have been raised in the 70s and 80s, when mass surveillance like this was only a nightmare brought on by works like "1984". There was no surveillance from the parents even; "Do you know where your children are?" was a question my parents rarely answered in the affirmative. Home for supper, home before dark, or a phone call if you're staying at a friend for dinner or a sleepover.

I was struck by the remark of one student, commenting on the now national ban on mobile phones in the classroom (some schools have the students deposit them in a bin at the classroom entrance, others require them to keep them in a locker for the duration of the school day). She said it was annoying, but also oddly liberating, knowing that not every little gaffe is going to end up on Tiktok to be made fun of. As if "a weight had been lifted". Modern kids might be used to the surveillance state, but it seems they find it as oppressive as we do.

I don't get why you or anyone puts up with such people. I'd start the dinner on time. If that person misses it, oh well. Actions should have consequences.