If you're that stupid/lacking willpower/whatever that you immediately go off and buy something because you saw it online, you deserve what you get.

You're an adult, supposedly with something approaching intelligence and self-control. If you're $50K in debt because you're continually buying junk, the problem is not with the influencers.*

* They're called shills. Call them what they are.

either you need something random you know your dollar store has,

Years ago I was with my parents in a Dollar Store. We weren't looking for anything in particular, just seeing what's there. We went through the condiment aisle and they had these tiny bottles of ketchup and mustard from name brand companies.

My dad wondered about why they would do this and I told him to think of it this way. You're on vacation or a business trip or whatever. You need ketchup or mustard, but you don't want to buy an entire bottle. This fits the bill. You could probably get three or four servings out of the jar, enough for one or two hamburgers or maybe four hotdogs. Where else could you get something like this?

If you can use your phone to control everything, then the only device you need with you is your phone.

And when you lose your phone or it's stolen? Or if it somehow gets bricked after an upate? Or gets compromised?

There's this thing called single point of failuare.

Agreed. If someone wants a movie or music or software, they can request it from the owners and can only use the item they were specifically given permission to use. Otherwise, they have to pay for it.

The only reason they deleted the databases was because they were let go by Trump. Most likely because they were Biden hires.

How many other hackers who have served time are subsequently hired by the government? Should we complain about that as well? We know of at least one who ran a site which offered services to hackers, and he was given the keys to the kingdom. How much private data do you think he exfiltrated?

The real issue is, once again, a private company didn't follow basic security procedures and let these two have access while they were being fired. Standard practice is to disable all access and escort from building when being fired. Neither was done in this case.

You have an AUX-IN? Must be a luxury model.

2010 Elantra Blue has an AUX-IN. Never used it, but I know it exists. Also has a USB-A connection. And a CD player which I regularly use.

And?

I had to read the blurb several times, but if these companies don't want to play by the same rules and regulations that real markets do, let them. Let them sell whatever they want in whatever fashion they want, without protections.

Then, when the daily occurrence of crypto theft occurs, they can be on the hook for making the "investors" whole again. Or not. Depending on what "exemptions" are given it's possible they may not owe anything, in which case the "investor" will have learned a valuable lesson:

Trade on a real market with real securities which has regulations designed to protect everyone involved.

You mean every 33 minutes.

All this has happened before, and all this will happen again.

each additional year companies delay upgrading equipment results in a productivity decline of about one-third of a percent

How is that even measured? Someone needs to tell us how not having the latest and greatest phone reduces productivity. The four basic uses are making/receiving calls, texting, checking email, internet. How can a 2024 model phone possibly be that less "productive" than a 2025 model?

As for PCs, the vast majority of people use Word, Outlook, and a browser (usually the memory hog Chrome followed by Edge). Again, explain how a PC which is three years old reduces productivity in this day and age.

This article almost sounds like an ad to get people to buy things to keep the economy rolling rather than a serious discussion.

Want the simplicity of what Notepad used to be? Mousepad is for you. Too bad it's not available for Windows.

Windows users will just have to suffer with whatever complex, bloated piece of yak manure Microsoft comes up with next.

Replacing the mouse has no effect. And this has happened over years.

If AI has never eaten a grilled cheese sandwich, how would you expect it to know what a protein shake is?

I have the issue where not every mouse click is recognized. On anything. Web page, form, MS Office software, third-party software, Windows itself, text field, you name it. I'll click somewhere, the mouse directly on what needs selected, and nothing happens. I have to click again to do what I want.

I first noticed it in W10 and it has continued to W11.

The "pandemic" showed that the kids could do the schoolwork in 3 hours, so what were they doing the rest of the day?

Learning social skills by having to talk (how horrible!) to other people face-to-face. Interacting with people from different households (the travesty!). Hearing people with opposing points of view (madness!). Getting off their fat ass and walking from class to class (will this never end!). Not looking at their screens (this is the last straw!).