At this point we’re into wild speculation about how it would play out. You’re describing an armed conflict where maybe some states have succeeded and there is in effect a civil war, with both sides Well armed, and supported by an industrial and financial base, and you make some good points. Although I think relying on the current level of incompetence in leadership to carry on is optimistic. I’m talking about the original premise of citizens in an armed insurrection. I don’t fancy their chances.

That’s a good point - but it depends on total war breaking out pretty much immediately, there can be no slow build up or call to arms, because that period would be when the state is at its most powerful!

The American revolution, Vietnam and Afghanistan were wars fought by occupying forces against indigenous populations. The guerrilla armies didn’t have to completely eliminate the occupying force, thy just had to make it financially and politically undesirable to continue to fight. A civil war on the other hand, fought against the US government would have no such ‘victory’ condition. They would never decide to give up because they essentially can’t be bothered any more. You would also be fighting against the intelligence apparatus of the state. The NSA, CIA, FBI etc. Who have to capability to track your every movement, freeze your bank accounts, seize your assets, stop your medical care, end your employment. And that of anyone who associates with you. How are you going to continue that fight for any sustained period of time?

I was a little confused on initial read, but I missed that it was a counting machine, not a voting machine.

Agreed. But you can do both. No amount of regulation of algorithms is going to prevent the developmental harm that does to developing minds (not that I have any evidence for that).

I’m surprised that there was any evidence of the fraud left to find!

Jesus, this idea that ‘parents need to take responsibility’. Social Media companies spend billions to tune their products to be as addictive and consuming as it is possible to be. Children have undeveloped brains which are particularly susceptible to social media influences. It’s like saying we should have heroine and cocain freely available to all and ‘parents need to take responsibility’ if they don’t want their kids to be addicts!

No, here is usually some redundancy designed in - by having 3 or 4 units, so if one fails there is a backup. But only the OEM is allowed to maintain the kit under contract. And surprise surprise, the terms of the repair contract usually involve insane rates for contractors and spare parts. Which the OEM withholds to extort even more.

Acre feet? Anything bit the metric system, eh?

I obviously never wore a helmet as a kid either, but i’m an adult now, and far more aware of the risks and the evidence is overwhelming that helmets reduce that risk. But when I see kids riding to school in my area, I’d say the majority wear their lid.

Interesting to note that in only one case was a helmet being worn! No way would I give a child a scooter (electric or otherwise) without a helmet!