Yeah, in their announcement demo they showed the dial as a virtual dial when left on the desk. So I think it probably will function fully without putting it on the screen. Though they didn't cover this fully.

On the opposite, the most compelling reason to only send robots is that you can sanitize people or plants (you might be able to sanitize seeds, I'm not sure though), without killing them, we cant' even fully sanitize the outside of a spacesuit really, especially if it has to arrive in a craft inhabited by people for months. We haven't yet started really digging into martian soil and examining it closely to find out if there was ever life there. The minute we send people there, we have contaminated Mars. Yes we should eventually send life there, but lets not destroy the evidence before we've even collected it.

If you have said robots build a city ahead of time. We have the technology to grow plants inside, Mars has enough gravity that most plants should grow just fine, we just need soil (and all the bacteria that contains, which yes, would require us starting with some earth soil) worms and seeds.

I think the idea is that theoretically if we could contact the owners of the simulation they could possibly download our minds and place us into their reality. These billionaires don't understand that their billions mean nothing to the simulation owners, they can't bribe their way out. Maybe, just maybe if you are a super genius above all geniuses in even their simulation, they might see a reason to download you. Might..

Maybe, thought this time we do have the Private sector who is looking to get there as well. NASA likely won't get there first.

To be fair, only a fool would hop into the back of the average Taxi Cab. But we often don't have much of a choice.

I take you you didn't even bother reading the anything past the headline. This is a carpooling application meant to share the cost of two people heading in the same direction. Its not meant as a part time job.

What if say, you could get an hourly rental car like a ZipCar to come pick you up? It hobbles along the road, and a low speed independently. You get in, drive where you need to go, get out, and it hobbles along until it finds another passenger or parking space. Would still be much cheaper than the average taxi service, and not require you to have to walk a vast distance to the nearest parking spot.

First I've heard.

An example of a nation hurt by trade.

South Africa?

The article put the wrong picture in there. Notice it does say Next 1000 in there. BMW (the parent company), is planning a
Mini Copper Next 1000
BMW Next 1000
Rolls Royce Next 1000

The BMW next 1000 which is supposed to have a removable steering wheel, but still that picture isn't quite right, I'm not sure where its from but the RR next 1000 that is not.

It should be possible if you plan a descent to be opposite a "normal" assent from Mars (not that we have done that).
Its 3800 deltaV from Mars surface to low Mars orbit, it should be similar cost to land.
That said, 3800 deltaV is still a lot, and I can't imagine it would be feasible to "stage" a re-entry.

Not even close.
SpaceX landing uses atmopsheric drag. Most of the landing comes from its terminal velocity. Earths terminal velocity is about 200 km/h, Mars terminal velocity is 1000 km/h (both of which change per shape/density/etc).
 

There is also a difference between.

I need an internet connection.
and
I need a connection to the Internet.

I personally would capitalize the later but not the first, previous AP guide said that both should be capitalized.

I wonder if there is a difference between. "The Internet is down," and, "My internet is down" ??