Death-worthy tech

Bruce Sterling lists Ten Technologies That Deserve to Die. I especially like what has to say about prisons:

Lose your American internal visa (formerly known as a “driver’s license”) and you soon find that merchants won’t take your credit, that aircraft won’t transport you, that for all your sunny smiles and good behavior, you are under heavy constraints. American airports have become incarceration centers in all but name, plus you can get a drink there and listen to Muzak. So why do we go through these same ritual gestures with the iron bars, uniforms, and transport trucks? Technically, it’s redundant.

Stupid axial tilt

There must be something wrong with my brain. Six months is long enough for me to totally forget how to dress for the weather. Well, OK, not totally. Today’s 60°F is clearly not warm enough for just a t-shirt and shorts, and it’s not cold enough for a full parka, but I’ve not much notion of what stage in between is comfortable.

This happened back when the weather was getting hotter, too. It takes me a couple weeks to recalibrate my weather-to-dress sense. Do normal people have this problem?

Hm. I think I can get away with the sandals for another ten degrees or so.