Yeah, there’s that too. A decade or more ago, our local paper ran an expose on the scammers, but they kept it reasonably constructive, giving equal space to strategies for identifying those in actual need.

For my teens, I kept it simple

• someone actively soliciting you in a high traffic area is likely a scammer
• someone sitting quietly, trying to “shrink” away from attention, whether they have their hand out or not, is more likely in need

Same here on a few bad experiences trying to help

• a guy asked for money to get a meal combo from McDonalds. I bought him the meal combo, so he keyed my car for not giving him cash
• I suppose I can see this being taken the wrong way, but I tried emptying my pockets a few times, only for them to throw the counts on the ground. After that I started noticing homeless with coins on the ground around them

Realistically, it doesn’t matter anymore since I almost never have cash. They seem to know that world has gone too, as I’m rarely solicited anymore

If we want to cherry pick …. Here in the US, i switched over to gigabit symmetrical over pandemic, but fiber has been available from three providers at that speed over a decade. Of course IPv6 has been “in progress” for that decade, with no sign of progress

I’m not entirely sure what this style even is - wouldn’t this same argument apply to Apple’s “Memoji” that has been out a few years?

Life begins at conception! Or before. A chicken fetus is a chicken, an unfertilized egg is a potential chicken fetus

You can dislike pedophiles and dog hunter yet still recognize some asshole doing it out of inflamed self-righteousness with no regard for evidence, human rights, due process is not the right solution. If even the legal system with all its checks and balances gets things wrong so often, what can you expect from some asshole out for blood?

The criminal justice system is meant to not only seek justice for victims, keep us safe from predation…… well yes vigilantism is another form of predation. Their self-righteousness doesn’t absolve their guilt. Heck, at least most pedophiles don’t try to defend themselves as doing their job right thing

Vigilantism is just a sign that government has become too corrupt to deal with problems effectively.

Or a sign that government is the problem as politicians resort more to divisiveness, hatred, bigotry and scapegoating to capture more extreme voters. Politicians stoke the outrage, inflame some groups against others, call for ending the rights of those they’ve marginalized, and even pardon those who committed treason in the name of fake vigilantism, based on manipulation and misrepresentation

Counterpoint, Imagine a dystopia belonging to transit …… https://m.imdb.com/title/tt6156584/plotsummary/

According to the Saga of Erik the Red, Erik spent his three years of exile exploring this land. … When Erik returned to Iceland after his exile had expired, he is said to have brought with him stories of “Greenland”. Erik purposefully gave the land a more appealing name than “Iceland” as “people would be attracted to go there if it had a favorable name”, per Erik’s own words.[19][20] Erik knew that the success of any settlement in Greenland would need the support of as many people as possible. Erik’s salesmanship of Greenland proved successful in…. as 1,043 years later a widely reviled politician who insisted he never he’d close personal relations with a couch, was quoted to exclaim in surprise “it’s fucking cold up there. Nobody told me that”

I have taken calls while loading my dryer, and it’s fucking stupid to not wait. I took advantage of advanced technology called a “pocket” to carry my “mobile” device

I did say yes, but they’re 19 and at college …… there’s no point in objecting when they’re at home

Epic 1,000 year troll!!! This guy should be a legend, a myth, a story that should have sagas written

That would require learning a piece of a language other than English …. He’d be an illegal immigrant, hardened criminal, gang member. That mascara is a sure sign of Tren de Aragua membership

As a techno-optimist, I always expected self-driving to quickly become safer than human, at least in relatively controlled situations. However I’m at least as much a pessimist of human nature and the legal system.

Given self-driving vehicles demonstrably safer than human, but not perfect, how can we get beyond humans taking advantage, and massive liability for the remaining accidents?

They are. I’m sure there are policies against discussing confidential actions on commercial services. I’m sure there are approved services they could have used, that there is security policy to use. I’m sure no external people would have been allowed to I’m sure they’re monitored for various leaking data. I’m sure there is someone accountable for making it so.

It’s not just that these are dumbasses who made a stupid mistake, but they are almost certainly so convinced of their own superiority that they don’t have to follow policies that everyone else does, policies that prevent stupid mistakes like this.

The real problem is they are above the law. They are royalty not accountable to any rules or ethics. That’s the real problem.

Edit: I’m also sure there are data retention policies to ensure things are auditable for treason, spying, illegal operations. Another reason they may have for using signal is to escape potential scrutiny, escape any responsibility for their actions, by using a service that’s not managed, not monitored, has no accountability. These people should not be allowed in charge of a loaf of bread’

Also homelessness is not simply lack of a home. It’s invariably more complex, and you won’t generally be successful with simply giving a property and washing your hands of it.

There may be disabilities, insufficient life skills, or vices and self-destructive behaviors that will fail this approach for all too many. A secure place to live is only the starting point

That assumes that all land is taxed at a similar value. However my property at 1/5 of an acre in town is worth more than a standard suburban acreage.

I think this continues to discourage living in higher density downtowns where there is walkability and transit, while enocuraging sprawl because large single family suburban lots are cheaper so have lower tax

There are many cases where you just can’t reduce prices enough to make them sell

• my higher priced town paid Pennies on the dollar for a complex that used to be a mental hospital and housing for various challenged. No developer was willing to pay anything because of lead and asbestos remediation costs. My town was hoping to get EPA funds and didn’t so is saddled with unusable property that it also can’t afford to clean up
• the town I grew up in has been declining for decades. Many houses are well below the cost of cars but still no one willing or able to buy. Last time I checked there seemed to be a floor at $5k but there were multiple habitable houses for $5k, and no buyers

That’s crazy: there are cleaners who speak the language? I thought this was a stereotypical job for immigrants because you don’t need special skills or credentials nor have to know the language. The skills are basic; you just need to work hard, be reliable and figure out how to get fast at it

Not likely intentional, more likely a redevelopment attempt that fell through, is blocked by zoning or other red tape, or changing market conditions.

We have a similar situation on a prime location on a very active street of shops and restaurants: there’s no reason for these building to be vacant for years. However I understand they wanted to redevelop to a much bigger building and have not been able to get it re-zoned.

Right across the street a similar redevelopment effort has been a huge success with something liver 100 apartments over street level restaurants. That’s perfect for that location and we need more of it, but exceeded zoning limits. Ever since then, our town council has been dragging to slow redevelopment