Its generally believed that Flock has exceptionally poor security for its cameras and regularly has police abuse its database of records. I'd like to see them offer $1M to anyone whose records are found to be abused (and allow independent audits). If they are willing to do that, I could trust them to manage such a system.

If its a bot, that account has been posting since 2009 with 500+ comments scored at 5 which is 4x what your account has accomplished.

This is one of the many reasons people don't trust Flock. Data going back a decade that is supposed to be secure really isn't. Countless systems with similar flaws shows most entities don't know how or care to properly secure data.

This wasn't a super nation-state hacker issue. Per the article: "Researchers said the database was reachable through a chain of security mistakes and default credentials." If companies had to post a $1M bond for each person's data they held, they would treat it more seriously. They won't do that unless forced to and they'll all lobby that its too hard to secure the data they often don't even need.

All the ads and articles about filling up electric cars for pennies will be erased when a few events like this happens and scares prospective EV purchasers from getting a $400+ fill-up when they aren't paying attention. Someone better quickly get laws forcing them to display pricing or the industry will be set back a decade.

For many, using cash from an ATM is how they do crime. They use that cash to buy drugs, prostitutes, and anything else illegal. They also use it to pay for goods and services from individuals to avoid the tax man. Not all cash is used for those purposes, but that's how most of those are paid for which probably allows any cop to believe they have probable cause for a crime just by seeing you use an ATM.

I'm cool with carmakers charging piecemeal for whatever they want. If they want to charge extra for headlights they can knock themselves out. But, if/when they start charging subscription fees for hardware that I own, that will be a brand I will purposely avoid for life.

* I admit I may cave if/when basically EVERY manufacturer has some sort of subscription option. Even then, I'll likely consider just buying nice older cars. For the price of a new Camry (~$30k), you can get a pretty sweet looking classic car that's easy and cheap to repair.

So now the Chinese/Russians/Iranians/NKoreans/Danish/Venezuelans/Canadians/PuertoRicans can effectively shut down US airspace for a week+ by purchasing and releasing a few dozen mylar balloons from the dollar store?

A few articles like this may help make Ring a little less popular.

"And it costs you exactly $0 extra."

Are Ring systems free?

It doesn't seem like I'd care either way then.

I need to know....
-if those heaters add substantial weight which could cut fuel efficiency
-has there ever been a case of those heaters causing electrical issues (working or disabled)
-how does their existence affect resale value
-can I or a passenger inadvertently enable the heating function and cause the manufacturer to try to collect money from me
-will a seat replacement cost more even if the heaters have never been used
-how does their existence affect my insurance rates

Some things are made proprietary just because its easier. Remember when everything was proprietary? It wasn't because all manufacturers were colluding to mka that happen. Sometimes its easier/cheaper to do it your own way.

Just because something is purposely or inadvertently shared with you, it doesn't mean its ok to share that with others.

What if Elon wasn't lying when he said we'd be on Mars within 10 years in 2011? What if he ran a secret mission for Trump and US astronuts landed on Mars in 2018 and have been there ever since? If so, is the "Elon" here actually an Optimus robot wearing an Elon mask?

If they eliminated 48,000 jobs last year and plan another 30k this year, that totals ~78,000 people. That's the population of Flagstaff AZ. They must have been amazingly inefficient to be able to shed so many bodies and still continue to operate. That said, they had ~500k employees a few years ago and this will end up being around a 10% reduction in force.