You used the "T" word. And in this case, I approve - that is exactly the sort of thing tariffs were invented for - surgical tariffs like this make sense - with an expiration timer - if our industries don't have pressure to improve product and lower cost, they won't - as has been proven over and over again.

While you are not wrong, I'd argue it is a little late to be fist waving at this point. We allowed this to happen with so many other "made in China" products. What's so different about cars? Why is that the trigger? Is it because the US feels it is the auto-industry capitol of the world - churning out crap and afraid of some competition? Ok, that was maybe a little harsh, but the problem started a long time ago, with China chipping away at our perceived cost of goods being artificially low. So, what exactly do we do, ban Chinese cars and force our citizens to drive crap-mobiles? This is looking more and more like Soviet Russia - everyone must drive a Skoda!

Throughout this topic, I see a lot of posts from the anti AC side claiming that installing AC in Europe is impossible - of which one argument is that split unit compressors are too loud. Have you seen modern splits from companies like Midea - who is the core manufacturer for many white labeled brands? Both the inside air handler(be it wall mounted or conceiled) and outside units are SILENT. The concealed units are much smaller than a traditional "Central" air handler and can utilize smaller ducting as well. I think people are hung up on the old binary scroll compressor at full tilt cycling on and off with a huge fans blowing at max speed. These modern inverter units modulate the compressor, utilize electronic servo controlled TXV's and modulate both the inside and outside fans to suite the demand. Not only that, but they are affordable and consume considerable less power.
Let's also address the issue of European dwelling construction and comfort: They are designed to absorb heat and minimize drafts - which is terrible for old-school AC's that try to cool the air as quickly as possible - creating cold clamy moist air. I've been in one such home with a Big old oversized AC. It is just gross. Modern units, like the technology mentioned above, deal with this "Stagnant" air perfectly by removing moisture form the air(by modulating the compressor to a lower setting and lower fan speed over a longer duration). This enhances comfort much more than simply lowering temperature and is ideal for those people who keep the place sealed tight.
Someone posted a chart which claims China is the largest producer of greenhouse gasses. If that is true, then I have to say at least China is making amends in a way with the new affordable and efficient HVAC technology. So, Europeans, I love you, but don't mock progress, give it a try, figure out a way to make it work - the only limit to this is yourselves!

https://kiss951.com/2023/07/05...

As if by design, Bitcoin investment - that is to say, investment in the infrastructure required to mine the bitcoin - laid the foundation and infrastructure needed to power the AI boom. It stimulated grid improvements and large scale "data centers" and whole industries sprung up as a result. many of those companies the sprung up to fulfill the power buildout needs for Bitcoin miners are now servicing the AI sector. I wonder what's next in the "big picture" (evil?)plan (if thee is one) .

Boca Cica?

Let's start a company that gives away FREE cloud connected ALPR cameras to install on your private vehicle!! You get the benefit of an always on dashcam to protect you and your loved ones. Heck, we may even pay you a small to rent the space in your vehicle for our equipment! Think of it as FLOCK mobile! Our TOS states that you can never turn it off, if you do, we'll know, and call the police to throw you in the slammer! And we'll fine you! What do we do with the data? We can't tell you, but rest assured, it's all in YOPUR best interest! Act now, and get TWO FLOCK mobile cameras! one for you and one for your loved one, because nothing says I love and trust you more than always on surveillance!

This is exactly how it works currently - which I support. But some greedy capitalistic company thinks it is a good idea to monetize these deployed cameras beyond their current use. Some people mentioned rising up and vandalizing these cameras -which I also support in concept, but it will destroy the good the cameras are doing in their initial purpose. Baby tiger cubs are cute and all until they get older and grow fangs and become dangerous... Let's not attach grown tigers to our school buses.. Think of the children, not of the $$

Exactly that - They want to sell the data to me - and I don't want to buy it. But my proxy - aka the local government I pay taxes to, says otherwise. Is it really that so m any people actually vote for this crap, or our or elected official so crooked that they take their cut and smile? Can't we, the people, vote on the decisions our elected officials make on our behalf, instead of blindly voting on the individual and trust that EVERY decision he/she makes is in our best interest?

Because your dash cam data is not reviewed by anyone other than you until you see a need for it - so it is not "mass" surveillence. What we're talking about is all those cameras feeding a central database that can be queried and viewed by unknown actors that have a large power base. Very different than you and your dash cam - and I agree, you have right to use your dashcam to protect your property and use the data when you file a complaint. See the difference?

"Crimes go unsolved every day! " And they will continue to do so... This surveillance increases the "crime rate" and allows for cherry picking crimes to solve - the low hanging fruit. The rapists and murders will still get away scotty free because most cops want to get their gold star for quota fulfillments instead of working on the dangerous or difficult crimes. This surveillance give them a rich river of data to cherry pick. And lets not even talk about retroactive "crimes" - Things you do or say that may have been legal at the time, but dig through a historical log to attack your enemies and add some false context and now you have "evidence" of crimes. You'll have to lawyer your way out to prove that what you were recorded doing at the time was legal. This is all just stupid - how many rapists and murders were caught using this tech? Hardly worth the justification in my opinion.

..a beowulf cluster of these!

Lately, I've seen error-correction kicking in, preventing me from doing stupid things - regular tasks that I do every day, suddenly pause and glitch for a moment or to while the ECC does its thing and corrects for a faulty cluster of synapses firing. So, yay that I can potentially replace my arthritis ridden arm, but what's the point if the gray matter that controls it is starting to fail?

I feel bad for the developers being layed off, but the company has been rotten for years ever since they commercialized and did away with standalone confluence and forced everyone to cloud, breaking compatibility with 3rd party apps and destroying that ecosystem. What a a great product that they cratered. I'm still, to this day, looking for a viable replacement that is not on the same money grabbing trajectory (Bookstack is looking good)

Well, he's on to something - send the bill for the door-dash driver to the person who left the door open.