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 just remembered MrBabyMan. Turns out he’s still an animation editor for Disney stuff, if anyone is curious. Wonder how he feels about social media in general now.

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.

If you truly hate kids, this is what you have to do. Introduce dangers with plausible deniability.

How was I supposed to know the kids would use it to turn each other into meat crayons?

The most bastardly thing they could do, right? The explanation is that processing costs money, so wifi via cloud only bullshit is getting expensive. Also, we’re disabling the only other viable alternative, effectively bricking all remote features intentionally. Why? Fuck you, that’s why.

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

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

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.

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.

North Carolina style, head to your nearest electric substation and open fire*

*Doesn’t work for laptops, instead just shoot the laptop

Washington isn’t a duty to retreat state, but duty to retreat laws often do cover accelerating a conflict with your weapon. Going open carry, as an opposing force and as a bright white little boy, to a riot started due to racial inequity could be considered accelerating a conflict. But those laws don’t apply here anyway.

But yeah, 20 minutes isn’t a far distance. And he did his best to retreat even after he put himself in that situation, and I don’t think there was any better decision to make besides just not being there. For him and the shit stains that attacked him.

Probably a lifetime of hardship when shit starts hitting the fan for reals. Here’s to hoping you and I are in a good zone when this all collapses.

Which do you think will become the first famous climate refugees? Residents of small island nations losing land and safety, or heat affected landmasses that become uninhabitable due to extreme temperatures and/or wet bulb conditions?