That Tesla doesnt make the robotic doors from the Model X standard (the front ones not the back ones) across its entire fleet is IMHO a huge mistake. How can a robot that looks like a car NOT have robotic doors? I have two Model X's and that is one of the best features ever.

If a person reads Tolkien, Herbert, Isaac Asimov, and then creates Star Wars, the things he or she read influence how they wrote Star Wars. There are things writing has given us over millennia, like story arc, character development, symbolism, etc. This is no different than an AI, learning from those who came before it, and using that knowledge to "take the next step". Tolkein likely read Orwell, who likely read... and so on and so fourth all the way back before Shakespeare.

You can own the copyright to a specific set of words creating your story. You can not own what your story inspires in others. Apply the same rules to AI. It is not a genie. It is just another creative entity using patterns and models like we do to do what until now only we have done.

Ill deal with the fallout I guess.

I'd like to address this. I dont tip when I walk up to pick up stick order booth and collect the tray and walk over to my table. Thats not above average. If I am seated, and I talk to a waiter who takes our order and returns with the food, of course I tip. But why tip when YOU ARE THE PERSON TAKING YOUR FOOD TO THE TABLE AND BUSSING IT TO THE TRASH?

All businesses should pay wages and charge prices inclusive of all their costs. Tipping culture is a shit solution to a ship problem. Never leave a tip on the credit card line. I --always-- put $0 and then put cash on the table or in the card-folio. Why? Because then the waiter gets to determine how the tip is managed, and I will sometimes not tip if the service wasn't above average (or I wasn't a problem customer, customizing dishes or being a needy table). I want the waiters to negotiate a good wage, I want the prices to reflect it, and I want this half-baked solution to go away. Can I afford it? Yes. But I am not a fan of negotiating with myself, which this constantly makes me do in my head "what was the service worth"? Not a fan. Get rid of it. Pay your wait staff, get rid of tip lines. Oh and I never --ever-- tip at a drive through. Im paying for merchandise. Sorry Starbucks.

The fact that the company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy is absolutely an indicator that the FTC failed its job. Its job (whether it should have it or not, is up for another conversation) is to prevent market abuse of monopoly. Amazon was not in the robot vacuum business, and this business was not buying a robot vacuum maker. There was no loss of choice etc. It went bankrupt, which indicates no market abuse was happening (it wouldn't have failed). I think shareholders have a legal case against the government (FTC?) for costing them loss of value. Regulators need a damn good reason to stop acquisitions. Like if Apple wanted to buy Android from Google, etc... but this was absolutely not that. It was just a large acquisition from every government's favorite target: Amazon. The animus in non-elected regulators is bad. The reform needs to be court rulings. If the FTC wants to block a deal, the FTC should sue to stop it in court, and the court should make a decision. If your trophy wall is blocked deals, and you are the judge, then you are going to block deals that shouldn't be blocked. Its that simple.

Some cold gas thrusters adjusted their attitudes and relative velocities "like Maverick's signature "hit-the-brakes" move in the movie "Top Gun.""

Sensationalizing much??

I use my iPhone or my HomePod when im actually home. This is a shit decision to buy an internet connected alarm clock. However, with Office 365, every fucking company switched to subscription, especially in software. Remember when apps were one-time buys? Recurring revenue has become the only meaningful way of driving valuation (otherwise BMW wouldn't have started charging monthly fees for seat warmers).

Honestly I wouldn't want the Trump administration to have a say so in what companies are allowed to acquire or get acquired. There is way too much politics involved and having Trump picking winners and losers (which let's be honest, is probably about who sucked up to him that week) is a very very bad idea. I get in 2022 this was done in the Biden administration, but really no administration should have a say so. The right answer is to have the markets sort it out by themselves and consumers should leveredge boycott more powerfully, frequently, and potently to disrupt business that abuse. I dont trust government to know what's best for me. I know what's best for me, and I trust my fellow Americans to make decisions for what's best for them without Trump's administration trying to guise itself as a guardian angel on my shoulder controlling what I have access to and not.

Elon Musk would have pushed solar panels and powerwall, not a generator from Harbor Freight.

No. You are citing doctors. Many of whom work with the FDA and other regulatory bodies in the various states. They are therefore responsible for our current state which hasn't changed in decades. Tell me, other than your objection to the guy in the video, what is wrong with his argument that we fix it? Tell me.

Our citation is that Trump just undid a ban that was a year old, so we are just back to square one. It isnt like Kamala was screaming out about food additives and would have done any better. You're partisan, thats fine. But let's not pretend RFK Jr is uniquely bad because he isnt doing what no one has done for 70 years.

His message was well received, but the admin obviously caved.

This is why he was popular, like it or not. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

RFK Jr is a quack. But that does not mean he didnt have a message that resonated. Some of his ideas I actually got behind like reducing coloring agents and "flavor" chemicals in our food. It's unfortunate this administration squandered a bunch of good will and political capital that would have actually done some good. America was ready to ban HFCS and all the other shit additives that are clearly responsible for at least some of the health issues facing America. Instead, they did what all politicians do (I am sorry, but ALL). They have a great message, and then disappoint in droves when they get into office because everyone knows business behind the scenes uses other methods of getting their way (rather than make the argument in public and debate the merits). RFK Jr is a dumbass on many many fronts, but I was hopeful he would clean up our food and water. Turns out I was too optimistic.

This is demonstrably false. I could cite the usual accomplishments of his, but its not likely to change anyones mind.

Elon Musk used to warn us about the dangers of AI, trying to get us to slow down, all the while building it seemingly as fast as he possibly could. I always considered that very hypocritical.

There shouldnt be free for some, if there isnt free speech for everyone. The only way I know I have free speech is if you also have it. Algorithms for engagement are no different than focus groups to determine which Tv shows to produce and which to cancel. Any other opinion is by definition a degree of fascism