ISPs also log which customer gets which IP and keep that historical data

I can confirm that not only is this true, but it’s been this way since the 1990’s. The metadata correlates the IP address, date/time information, and customer account number. It’s highly likely that any given ISP will have this data going back years, if not decades. It really doesn’t take up much space.

I can also confirm the “just ask nicely” part. I’ve seen it with my own eyes that it really comes down the scruples of the people guarding said data. There exists no law that prevents that information from being disclosed to anyone.

From the charging hole.

Can do, boss! Not sure what this means though.

She’s onto something. CRT displays and VHS recordings are very imperfect in the best way; they lie to us so sweetly. There’s a lot of production mistakes and fakery that is really hard to spot with old tech. These things stand out in ways unforeseen on digital remasters all the time - it kind of kills the magic of it all, really.

If you must have a lawn (e.g. HOA, personal preference), I strongly recommend doing away with this nonsense and go electric. Better yet, stay ahead of battery obsolescence and get a plug-in model, provided your yard is small enough. No more gas, oil changes, clogged filters, re-gapping spark plugs, and no more dislocating your shoulder trying to start the damn thing. Just keep the blade clean and sharp and it’ll run for a decade at least.

Now I’m wondering if there such a thing as a decentralized private company?

I’ve been thinking about this all week. I have no idea if that exists or not. A few things sprang to mind though:

• It might be possible to have lightweight companies that all adopt the same incorporation boilerplate, not unlike a computer operating system. That, in turn, would be developed by a distinct entity and would publish updates to improve said OS over time. So, open-source but for legal docs that matter. This would make companies unified in principle, but ultimately, distinct.

• It’s possible for companies to operate “at arm’s length” but still share useful information or coordinate towards similar goals. One must be well-versed in anti-trust law to do this though.

• A franchise is the only existing model I can think of that comes even close. But that’s still centralized. I suppose a non-profit parent company and for/non-profit franchise operations might come closer.

i did not know what all those bins of tiny electronic hobby parts were for, but I desperately wanted to learn.

From what I understand, prior to the personal computer boom of the 1980’s, HAM radio was kind of a big deal with nerds. The parts were there for all manner of electronics tinkering, but a big mainstay was building and modifying radios. Yeah, you had people tinkering with computers in the 1970’s too, but it was more niche (until it wasn’t).

I did this once. Only way to get rid of it was to sell my house.

I agree. The environment in which this must function is corrosive to the very idea, hence why I’m asking it openly here. It’s a pretty dense minefield.

I’m no lawyer, but I’ve mused a lot about some kind of legal “dead man switch” that somehow renders the company value-less if it deviated from the intended path. Something built into the company’s charter and founding documents, not unlike some kind of constitution.

Real question here: is it possible to walk all this back from the edge with more ethical companies? I’m thinking co-ops, Mondragon corps, union shops, etc. Basically build businesses that have motivations other than deepening the pockets of VC’s and the like, yet have some kind of growth trajectory (or federate with other corps) to gradually subsume the market.

I get that massive funding makes certain things possible, like disrupting the market, or aggressively buying your competitors. And yes, the company charter would have to be bulletproof against hostile takeover, buyouts, and enshitification, in order to go the distance. But is that really all it takes, or am I missing something huge here?

This reminds me of the dolphin jokes that Lower Decks got away with in almost every season. Dolphins + Universal Translator = Instant workplace harassment.

Yup. Consider the role of NORAD and the missile defense shield. USA is not only a poorly run meth lab, but it also provides armed security for the whole building.

This does make me wonder: do municipalities with a large number of roundabouts have stats for how these things foil drunk drivers? I feel like there’s a serious possibility of reducing fatalities if we just replace the center of these circles with ponds and/or sand traps.

It’s that. It’s been a hot minute, but (IIRC) for me it was the less-than-great UI/UX that really adds up to a high friction experience. Especially when compared with software like Slack or Discord.

Honestly, what I find frustrating with Teams is that both MSN Messenger and Skype were right there. It’s not even an issue of copyright or trademark as MS owns both. Even just lazily re-branding Skype would have been head-and-shoulders above what we have now.

How? Asynchronous communication is better for a lot of people. And now that we have really good choices for that, it’s hard to ignore.

A phone call demands that you drop everything in that moment and pay close attention to the person on the other end. If they ramble, deviate, breathe heavily, have a lot of background noise, etc, you’re stuck with that experience for the duration. Also, recording without consent is illegal in a lot of places, so you have to be able to write things down in order to refer back to the conversation if it contains any important information.

In contrast, everything else is self-documenting, can be read through multiple times, and can be handled when there is time to focus on that task. As a bonus: most people can read and understand text faster than they can listen. So it’s just more efficient.

What troubles me the most is that sounds like a very deeply abused person. It’s a kind of person that has problems introspecting and managing their emotions. Is that what we’re really up against? Is it all just mental illness?

To be completely fair, it’s hard to overstate the durability of an old Thinkpad. They’re so ubiquitous, Linux compatibility is almost guaranteed. Then, after the battery goes, attach it to a UPC and ride that setup for another decade at least.

When I mentioned that all this went down for a mere fraction of what everyone else paid, her immediate reaction was: “Well, isn’t that what China does with just about everything?”

It’s an interesting assertion, which caused me to ask a question here: How are we defining “independent”, exactly?

Because if it’s merely “not a member of a major political party”, it pretty much explains everything.