So NFTs but even dumber because we now have an asset that isn't unique, is only rare in context, and probably lacks any meaningful anti-counterfeit controls etc.

Every time it appears Gen-Z has a solid lead in race to be dumbest generation, the now middle aged Millennials groan and say hold on there youngin hold my beer!

To which Gen-Z replies, eww you still drink that stuff.

I am not sure about that.

Microsoft isn't a hardware company, going back to add on cards in mice for XTs, Microsoft has always used hardware to push software.

We see the ROG Xbox Ally and the pushing of Xbox branded content in Windows 11. I think all suggests that while XBox as brand and XBox 'titles' are not going away Microsoft is testing the waters for options that don't include them sell hardware. Those options range from pure PC based / Windows software plays to partnering with OEMs to build gaming oriented hardware that can run custom spins of Windows 11.

Microsoft has long history of trying to get into the living room with various products, webTV, that floppy based picture viewer thing whatever that was called, Media Center releases of windows.. XBox as we have known it might just be another corpse beside that highway. It failed to give them the gatekeeping positions for media in the home they have always sought. In someways I think Microsoft missed Smart-TVs they way they missed the web and mobile.

Given the 100 year time difference, I suspect these two groups you identify as communist aren't actually the same people.

And infinite money machine clearly violates the laws of thermodynamics.

But an infinite pain machine is allowed under known physical laws.

There are already first-level companies that no longer require a degree for entry-level positions... Google among them. This is only going to accelerate. There will be more things like 3rd party certification programs that to some extent replace traditional degrees. Colleges can either adapt to this change, or be wiped out by it.

The EPA and IARC relied on different kinds of research to reach their conclusions. The EPA (U.S.) states that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer in humans. But, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified the chemical as "probably carcinogenic to humans."

Also, not all glyphosate products are the same. And in the US at least we only list the so-called "active" ingredients, but the unlisted ingredients can potentially be toxic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic. Generally chemicals get pulled being unlisted when there is little doubt of their harm, but the default in US markets has been to essentially assume every ingredient already on the market is safe. (contrary to the rest of the sane world)
So we get formulations like Roundup which can have various dyes, foaming agents, thickeners, etc to improve the performance and application of glyphosate.
But we often don't know what those ingredients are, unless they are flammable, then those ended up on the MSDS.
For example, Roundup Pro is: 50.2% glyphosate and 13.0% Surfactant blend (proprietary).

Innocent people never deserve what happens to them, that's pretty much the definition of innocent. But many people still turn a blind eye to the things done to the innocent, often in the name of profit and in part to a warped concept of freedom.

Running a business shouldn't grant people absolute freedom and immunity from consequences. But that's precisely how a corporate board operates today.

I don't see a rash of bans, but I do see the same abusers of moderation given all the mod points they can use every day.

You can thank student loans for that. Earlier generations got their schooling subsidized, but now people have to get loans to pay for it themselves instead. Colleges therefore could raise tuition. Then a bipartisan effort in Congress was launched to make sure we couldn't discharge those loans through bankruptcy like you can gambling or other personal debts, which was led by Joseph R Biden. I think we know how that turned out, forgiveness for a few of the worst abused players, and blaming inability to keep his campaign promises related to partial forgiveness for all buyers blamed on Congress while he went around them to fund genocide in Gaza.

You get two stories a week because the current model of education we have is broken beyond repair, and to some extent, obsolete, and needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. You don't need to go away to a campus at a debt of six figures (or a cost of six figures to taxpayers) to get an education anymore. If anything, the Internet has revolutionized and democratized education to an extent undreamed of in human history. From the freely available works of the greatest minds in history to real time or recorded remote instruction, people now have everything they need for a first class education at their fingertips. It's all about personal motivation at this point. The resources are there, often at little or no cost. How hard is one willing to work to get the education? That's what it comes down to now.

The old model is going to have to either adapt to this reality, or die out and be replaced. I think some of both will happen. You already have 100+ colleges a year closing in the United States. That will only accelerate with AI now in the mix.

As to VisiCalk being the real OG that started from nothing, there's an interesting comment on a VisiCalc youtube:

In 1969, we had to develop the world's true first electronic spreadsheet (LANPAR) within the limitation of 32k of memory - and we included forward referencing which didn't appear in Visicalc, TKSolver, Supercalc or even Multiplan I. Only in Lotus 13 years later. We even included the ability for sophisticated logic calculations, access to external data base data, and input of data in real time. Timesharing in those days was very similar to "cloud" computing now, except that you knew exactly which remote computer was doing the processing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Also at that scale who knows how much they are paying for each seat, I'm sure it's a bespoke deal. No doubt MS is making money, but I wouldn't just take the retail price and multiply it by 2 million.

"and their families" Stop it. Innocent persons do not deserve this.

It doesn't matter what the law says, the grifter will do whatever he likes. The "justice" dept won't stop him. Congress doesn't have the power, and certainly not now with the spineless worms in it. And if a court case ever does come up, he'll delay it all the way up to the Fascists on the Supreme Court who will find a way to give him what ever he wants. Our only hope now is that Alzheimer's takes him faster that his Leqembi drug can keep him from looning out on TV.....well, more so than he is currently.

The Billionaires do not care about America. They figure they can live anywhere their money will take them. Selling America is just another profit making enterprise for them.