The problem is essentially the same as with any other technology we've developed: it's evolving orders of magnitude more quickly than humans themselves are evolving, physically and socio-politically.

Physically and socio-politically?

I think you're implying that without the tech, future humans would be more adapted to better the consequences of tech. I call bullshit.

I don't know if we're much brainier than we were 5k years ago, but if we are, tech is what allowed us to put those precious nutrients and energy into brains instead of muscles.

Furthermore, tech is what allows us to "evolve" socio-politically. Without communications, you're hunter-gatherers who can sneakily backstab competitors without future consequences. Without nukes, it's viable (and possibly even sane, in a horrible evil way) to start a World War. Without tech, an otherwise perfectly admirable person gets sick and dies for no good reason. This goes on and on in so many nasty ways I don't wanna talk about.

The ensmallening(*) of the world is how we grow up. You might not like some of the directions it goes, but look where we're coming from.

We (humans) are not anywhere near ready to live in a world without borders

Maybe you're right, but you're casting it as though there's some progression where later, we might be ready. WTF are you talking about? Without tech you think we'll eventually become "wise beings of pure energy" from Star Trek or Babylon 5?

(*) Principle Skinner is telling me that's a cromulent word, so don't make fun of it.

It actually makes me think the requirement for a passport in the first place is a bit odd.

Sshhhhh! [waving arms frantically] Stop asking questions!

Instead of talking about the power requirements, I've had a different question nagging me for a few decades: Some plasma guns fire straighter than others, thanks to rifling?

If Facebook loses and citizens start pushing for similar laws in other states, it could keep our activities in public relatively anonymous for a bit longer.

No. Laws do not have the ability to put genies back into bottles.

Oh, what a dream that would be!

The temperature fluctuates here, iirc, between 72 and 75. 2 cubes over, registered 72.9 when mine registered 74.9. Air flow and the closed vent are major players here.

"They" need it? The musicians who want it, already have it. They'll sell you music. Buy it from them.

And if you simply must stream it, instead of playing it from local storage, then stream it from your file server.

Don't have a file server? Bad nerd!

Like awakening from a dream... :)

Heh. Nice find.

Then there was that time under NT that i tried organizing the system directory. Well, it was kind of okay until the next reboot. Not being able to boot is a great teacher too. :)

Deus Ex

I'd far rather have a/c though!

Let's trade! We always want what we don't have, eh? :)

In your case, though, you can provide you're own A/C, as you have a window, put in a window fan, or a double window fan that can blow air both in and out. (I used to have one of those and was really happy. It may not be perfect, but you have some recourse. Enjoy what you have. :)

what in the hell do we actually do about it aside from individual protection?

Protection is it. That's the thing to do about it.

put an end to at least one program... problem is, another grew to take its place

And that is a problem that is all but guaranteed. Even if we put loads of political pressure on our own government to stop being one of the bad guys, our government isn't the only government. And even if you were to magically control all governments: governments aren't the only game in town.

You have to assume an actively hostile network. I don't know why this is such a big problem. I think it's something we can handle.

And if you look a it that way, and "go dark," you'll also be addressing the government problem too. If they can't spy on you, not because Congress talks to them harshly when caught, but because they don't have enough success, then they'll stop. Reading love letters is fun but staring at hex dumps eventually gets boring.