actual, verifiable digital ownership... using a distributed database technology that is designed to require a massive amount of computing resources to update.

I think where some of us who work in spaces using databases to verify something in critical business processes get stuck in accepting that blockchain has value is that our jobs have always been to verify "ownership" as quickly and efficiently as possible. We typically do this by defining a canonical source of truth and our success is judged on how many milliseconds transactions take and the datacener or cloud costs.

Saying that everything about blockchain is "dumb" isn't a very nuanced analysis... but it's a understandable reaction to hearing the hype that blockchain is going to change everything for years.

I've never seen anyone argue that the massively distributed nature or the public read access of blockchain technologies aren't interesting. It's the tradeoff that has to be made in speed and costs that make it hard for many of us to see any value in the approach for most applications.

which shouldn't be difficult as the "rest of his life" will likely be just a few days

I appreciate the effort, but this version ends with...

took his children to protect them from the occupation’s missiles, but

But what?

I don't own a timeshare. Feel pretty good about that decision.

The numbers they were showing us seemed to make sense. If we spent an average of X on vacations for Y years compared to the cost of the timeshare and fees, the timeshare was cheaper AND we could trade our week in a ski area for timeshares anywhere in the world. How could we not buy into this? Might have signed, but when they told us we couldn't take any of the information with us and had to decide NOW, I knew something wasn't right. Had to say no for almost an hour, but but we were eventually allowed to leave the "no obligation presentation" required for our "free" weekend.

When I did more research, I found dozens of people trying to unload their purchases for far less than the company was selling weeks to new members.

I'll NEVER own anything using that kind of sales strategy.

I think the best way to deal with the issue includes education, digital skills, and parental oversight of Internet use including the use of personal filters or blocking tools if desired.

As a someone who works in technology and is a parent to 2 kids < 10, I'm already aware of what a niave statement that is.

I keep my kids' iPad locked down and have a router with some basic parental control features, but as the number devices in our lives that are able to browse the web increases along with the number of wireless networks my kids can connect to, trying to police this myself is futile.

And I'm not even concerned about them occasionally seeing "normal" porn. As a former Reddit user, I've seen some things I wish I hadn't. Things I'm not able to fully process as an adult.

I can handle the conversation about...

"you know how people drive in Fast and Furious isn't how people drive in real life? That's what porn sex is like compared to the sex you are going to have."

I cannot explain some of the darker corners of Reddit.

If you applied Geist's logic to alcohol, it would be up to parents to keep kids from going to liquor stores. Sure I can stop my kids from drinking the alcohol I have in my own home, but I rely on laws to make it very difficult for them to do something as a community we've agreed they aren't mature enough to make good decisions about.

Why can't we apply the same policies on to internet services?

Enjoyed the begining of the game, but the cancer story line was way to depressing. Not fun at all. If I could give it 0 stars I would. Would not recommend.

The free market solution would allow communities to negotiate contracts that DID hold the provider liable and allow competitors to emerge that would focus on different aspects like reliability, renewable production or integration with other grids.

If you aren't aware of the story of Central and Southwest Corporation (a Texas power company) and thr "midnight connection", it's the type of story that I'm sure is nearing the top of Netflix's documentary todo list.

On May 4, 1976, a power company based in Texas sent electricity from a substation in Vernon, Texas, to Altus, Okla. By doing so, they were breaking a deal among power companies in Texas to keep electricity within state borders.

https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2022-09-08/texas-energy-island-the-disconnect-vernon-midnight-connection

If what Texas has with ERCOT is neither free market nor a public utility, what is it?

we don’t have the kind of political system YET...

Roughly 50 American voting jurisdictions — from small cities to states — have now moved to a ranked choice voting system, according to tracking by the advocacy group FairVote, and it's shaping up to be one of the political subplots of 2024.

Advocates say ranked choice voting could help take some of the toxicity out of American politics while giving voters access to a broader swath of ideas.

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/13/1214199019/ranked-choice-voting-explainer

This YouTube video show some screenplay from Mouse, an upcoming noir based FPS game. The game will take full advantage of the public's right to reuse1920s era cartoons, particularly Steam Boat Willy, in new and innovative ways.

https://youtu.be/kNad1vG1QG4?si=QywRxIhPpQpq6GPM

Princess Bride

I always thought a sequel where the roles are reversed and Fred Savage is reading to an ailing Peter Faulk would have been a great way to start a sequel.

Adam Frisch came within 600 votes of defeating Boebert without this much money to spend. The money is likely given freely now by people who hate Boebert more than they like Frisch. They never want to hear about this trashier version of Sarah Palin again and donate make sure he wins, but if the donations are primarily coming from outside his conservative district, this election could still be decided by Trump's ability to motivate people who would still enthusiasticly vote Boebert to show up at the polls. If that happens and true conservatives just sit this one out rather than voting for "the other side", CO may end up sending this train wreck back to DC.

The legal representation of the voting machine companies are a box of pupies compared to the big pharma lawyers. IANAL, but this sounds like textbook defamation.