If we decide we can't (or don't want to) pay our debts, it won't be us that is screwed.

There currently is no distinction -- things are programmed to behave like they're intelligent, because in all these decades no one has figured out how to make them actually intelligent. (This applies somewhat to people too)

Unlikely that they added the ability to fret. More likely that they gave it the rule "prevent any automaton from falling into the hole" rather than "prevent as many automatons as possible from falling into the hole". Thus in the former case if it can't find a solution that saves both, it would keep looking forever. If you wanted one that looked more like indecision, you could give it the rule "move the automaton closest to the hole away from the hole".

The trouble with computers is that they do as they're told, and do not attempt to figure out what you want. I suppose you could write a program that will instead of doing what it is told, tries to identify what you want and do that instead. But I expect that would go horribly wrong...

Your system has too many vulnerabilities. The worst is its reliance on criminals to be loyal and diligent, any one of whom could compromise your entire organization's communication. Almost as bad is using a 2 byte encryption key (the index to a book). And then you want them doing steganography, and by hand? They'll be raising every red flag there is.

On the other hand, you could simply use private/public keys. Each person has their own set of keys, and the key itself is encrypted with a decent password.

When developing a good AI is outlawed, outlaws will be the first to develop a good AI. And it will likely go poorly, but not like the pathetic rogue AIs of movies.

I would like a 1000 terabyte per second up/down connection, with no filtering or fastlanes, for one cent a month. No? How about a compromise... meet me halfway?

Sure, if you don't know how to make an AI then your only choice is only multiplayer. However, I find that multiplayer games tend to have less depth then single-player games. This may not be a problem for first person shooters, but even RTS games have to be simpler when you can't pause (though simpler is not necessarily bad). On the other hand, nobody likes waiting for the other player to take their turn on a game where you aren't pressed for time. MMOs usually have a decent system where you can play alone or with a group at whatever difficulty you choose, but someone seems to have made a rule that all MMOs must be a perpetual grind. Oh, and they also eat more into your real-world social life, as you might notice if you try to interact with someone playing an online game.

Of course, the real reasons developers love multiplayer are pretty obvious. They can have a developer owned server, which guarantees them DRM and also they can kill off the game when it's time to make people buy the sequels. They can sell DLC, or suck micropayments out of people. But you can tell when they're doing it for the community when they allow you to run a server and don't have micropayements.

I think the next poll will be:
Notably more boring than last one
Slightly more boring than last one
Not significantly different than last one
Slightly less boring than last one
Notably less boring than last one
It will talk about the weather again!

Could you give an example of a weapon that disables someone for 24 hours? Most weapons would disable for minutes or hours (flashbang, tear gas, taser, tranquilizers), or for weeks or months (eg bullets).

Worst is something that will almost certainly kill you, but does it slowly. More humane, but hardly different in the end, is something that kills you quickly. Best is something that takes you out of commission for a while, but causes no permanent damage. Fairly rotten is something that has a tendency to cause permanent disability, but less likely to kill. This last one causes a lot of damage to militaries and governments, even if individuals would prefer to be permanently disabled then killed. Although bullets can maim, they generally result in either a recoverable wound, or death. Conversely, weak lasers will only result in temporary or permanent eye damage, and have enough ammo that you can fire it continuously.

But how long until googling becomes the standard term for any web search? It is conveniently shorter, after all. And probably more specific, since search engines sometimes search stuff not directly on the web.

I see that your skill at identifying other people's knowledge is consistent with your skill at understanding mathematical theorems.

"High School Student Builds Gun That Unlocks With Your Fingerprint"

I feel so special! But, how did he get my fingerprint?

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but did Mr Logan have a warrant to search all of Washington? And where's his probable cause? Or maybe his search for child porn, wasn't a search?

To put it in a different perspective, one person was violating the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution in order to enforce a law violating the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution. And everyone thinks his victim is the dangerous one.