Urbanists literally ARE the civilization. Nothing interesting or modern or vibrant happens in suburbs. Infrastructure wears out, and guess what, TAXES are supposed to pay for replacing them.

As a former fed, I know that contract developed software is often encumbered by software patents or copyright, unless the contract is specifically written as a work-for-hire. I've always thought ALL federal contracts of the sort should be written as work-for-hire by default, for exactly this reason! If taxpayers pay for the development costs, we should own it!

Entropy has it's way with both building-level and municipal infrastructure. I don't want to think about a slow water leak somewhere between floors of a large building.

Does the UK not have an Inspector General Act? https://www.ignet.gov/content/... Briefly, the U.S. Federal Government has imposed this as a near-universal requirement for most Federal Agencies, and Government-owned corporations. Not to say the "watchers" can't be corrupted, which is an observation that dates to antiquity: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

Unfortunately, many iCult members support the lack of choice in the Apple ecosystem.

It'd be hard to do any worse than the current state government.

If the game mechanics aren't copyrightable, what prevents someone from forking to a more open license?

If parent won't stand up, I'll say "yes". They shouldn't be a state. Fairfax County, Virginia has twice the population. When will they get four U.S. Senators?

I think it was Churchill who said "you can always count on the Americans to do the right thing... after trying literally everything else."

I'm an American. I think I understand our allies frustration. My country embarrassed itself over 2016-2020. It lost a lot of credibility. Some of us want to do better. On the other hand, I think globalism is politically toxic in the U.S. and large parts of Europe. I think it means governments need to enforce the law and not be a**holes about it. Democratic governments get it wrong all the time. Ultimately the system is self-correcting. I think the PRC has gotten a lot of things wrong. There is no apparent corrective mechanism. I think that's kind of alarming! Peace out.

Those plastic retention clips used in modern laptops often break when used. I'd rather have a small number of the same-sized, same type screw.

Western economies need to bypass Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. Oil exporters should have crude oil processed elsewhere.

Here's what I'd recommend as a possible compromise: 1 semester of history of science/cultural/basic mathematical context for Newton/Liebnez/Einstein, The Calculus, The Bomb, etc. 1 semester of a specific mathematical or statistical discipline directly related to the students broader course of study. 1 semester of "what the Math Department wants you to know about math", graded on a curve, definitely not a weed-out course. I think there is a point to be made that the Math Department doesn't necessarily get a sole veto over whether someone graduates.

The United States is in the company of Liberia as the only country that still uses the grand jury system for judicial fishing expeditions. The reason is specifically because of the oft-quoted observation that a prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich, if he wanted.